Jason West, a Utah man, apparently had a dispute with the Basin Clinic about a medical bill. According to the Deseret News of Salt Lake City, Jason asked the staff if they accepted cash. When they responded in the affirmative, he apparently paid the twenty-five dollar bill by pouring 2,500 pennies onto the counter. According to the paper, he then requested the staff to count the pennies. As a result of the May 27, 2011 incident, West has been cited on a charge of disorderly conduct.
Despite what appears to be lawful action, police issued the 38-year-old West a citation for disorderly conduct. The potential fine is $140 or 14,000 pennies. Hopefully West secures the services of a lawyer who will take this case probono. The precedent set by punishing a man for peacefully exercising his rights can not be tolerated in a free society.
Should be no penalty for use of coinage! What the heck is going on in Utah?
ReplyDeleteJohn Belushi was paid in pennies for voice over work he preformed for a producer he had a dispute with, no charges were ever filed in that case. Being paid like that is an honest non violent way to show ones dissatisfaction with a business deal, product or services.
ReplyDeleteI would think it is up to the receiver of such cash transactions to count the payment for their own satisfaction, not the payee.
One must ask if the disorderly conduct charge was for something else after the police arrived?? Or simply because he paid in pennies, if so this guys attorney needs to look up the Belushi innocent for a defense.
Should be "Belushi incident" in my post above
ReplyDeleteNow that I think about it, it was Jack Nicholson who paid Belushi in pennies for the voice over work in the movie “Goin’ South”. They most always have to correct audio shot on location and I believe it was a $100.00 in pennies for his voice corrections.
ReplyDeleteCould have been $1000.00, not sure!
two great actors, v.g.
ReplyDeletePenny for your thoughts?
ReplyDelete