Sentenced to tuna casserole once a month

[Sharlee]

Potluck sentence: Tampa judge orders feuding neighbors to break bread

Two men live at the end of Caron Road in Tampa in homes divided by a narrow fence. They have been at odds for almost 10 years. One man plays his music too loud. The other man calls the police.

This is how it was until January 22, when police caller had a few beers and shouted across the fence to music lover. Then came words and threats and fists. There was a trial and a guilty verdict. And then the sentencing fell to Judge Paul Huey, last week, in Courtroom 19.

Would he send the man to jail? Would he sentence him to probation? Or in the interest of a more cosmic justice would he do something he's never done before?

Huey sentenced Alli to 50 hours of community service and six months probation. But there was something else.

"I want you all to get together once a month, and you can do it however you want. Once a month, at a different house, you have a get-together . . . and just whatever, have a potluck, just do something. Kids have to go, too.

"You've got to show up. And who knows? Maybe we'll have a little United Nations. Maybe we'll start a better little part of the world in one place. . . .

Alli said the sentence shocked the hell out of him, but he'll go along. He said he is hosting the first of the six potlucks on Aug. 14. His attorney is going to bring brownies. He might play Indian music.

[fuzzbrain]

I'm hungry, I didn't eat breakfast, tuna casserole sounds good right about now.

[NSgirl]

That judge sounds like a pretty smart cookie! Obviously some one that can see out of the box!

[Dave]

Potluck sentence: Tampa judge orders feuding neighbors to break bread

Two men live at the end of Caron Road in Tampa in homes divided by a narrow fence. They have been at odds for almost 10 years. One man plays his music too loud. The other man calls the police.

This is how it was until January 22, when police caller had a few beers and shouted across the fence to music lover. Then came words and threats and fists. There was a trial and a guilty verdict. And then the sentencing fell to Judge Paul Huey, last week, in Courtroom 19.

Would he send the man to jail? Would he sentence him to probation? Or in the interest of a more cosmic justice would he do something he's never done before?

Huey sentenced Alli to 50 hours of community service and six months probation. But there was something else.

"I want you all to get together once a month, and you can do it however you want. Once a month, at a different house, you have a get-together . . . and just whatever, have a potluck, just do something. Kids have to go, too.

"You've got to show up. And who knows? Maybe we'll have a little United Nations. Maybe we'll start a better little part of the world in one place. . . .

Alli said the sentence shocked the hell out of him, but he'll go along. He said he is hosting the first of the six potlucks on Aug. 14. His attorney is going to bring brownies. He might play Indian music.

It could all be an elaborate trap. Looks like both lawyers will be there to referee the situation but, you see, this could all just be a setup to get everyone in the same room. Once the beer starts to flow and the lawyers let their collective guard down the two protagonists will turn on the them accoding to plan. Once the two lawyers  are "eliminated" the two plotters will then take up residence in the same unsuspecting neighbourhood in another city and it starts all over again, all with the the good intention of ridding us of lawyers.

Q)  What is the difference between a cod fish and a lawyer?

A)  One is a bottom-feeding scum-sucker and the other is a fish.