Susan Jewell

International:
SUMMARY- A man in Germany had surgery on his brain, but due to a faulty refrigerator his saved skull was no longer able to be used. A prosthetic skull was fashioned and replaced his original skull. He claimed in courts that "the prosthesis caused him headaches, affected his balance and made him unduly sensitivity to the weather."Although the man said this, experts concluded "that the operation had caused the man's discomfort, not the loss of the top of his skull." He asked for 20,000 euros as compensation for the pain and difficulty caused.

OPINION- The hospital should have made sure the equipment was in working condition because the outcome could have been far worse than a plastic skull being made. I think the man asking for 20,000 euros was ridiculous though. He had no proof that the new plastic was affecting him negatively. I would guess he felt silly when he discovered the pain was from the surgery itself.


National:
SUMMARY- A team of thieves steal beer-- one man distracts by doing a hula dance with a mask on but no clothes while the other steals the beer. The man was not enough of a distraction and the clerk called the police. A customer raced after their car as they drove away to catch the license plate number. Several days later the men were caught.

OPINION- I think that this was a clever idea that probably came to the men on a different drunken night. Although the incident was humorous, they did not plan very well. I am slightly disappointed the men were caught mostly for entertainment's sake. The fact that there were repercussions kind of ruin the "happy ending" at least for me.