I have spent this week at the Bonneville County Courthouse serving on another Jury. I guess I shouldnt complain...it has been 9 years since my last jury service. But I have received at least 6 summons since then. I didnt have to report until Monday afternoon. At that time they drew about 24 names and they went up to the "jury pool" chairs. The judge asked each person to give their name, occupation, marital status and spouses occupation, and number of children. Then the attorneys asked the group a number of questions. Depending on how people answered the attorneys would ask them more details and then possible ask to have them released. When someone was released they would call up one more person to take their place. About 10 people were eliminated, I was called up on the second to last person sent home. When the attorneys were satisfied with the "pool" they started the deselection process. A paper was passed to the judge and each attorney and they would write the name of someone they didnt want to have on the jury. When there were thirteen people left they excused the rest and seated the 13 of us left in order. I was the 13th juror seated so I got the crappy leftover chair.
We heard the opening arguments that afternoon before we went home. Basically it was a contract dispute between a psychiatrist and a local clinic. This dr. was enticed to come work here in Pokey and IF following his fellowship at some school in the east. It was over a half a million dollar contract over a two year period. Well after 4 months the Clinic was not making it financially and needed to do something to lower their costs. The dr and another dr. hired at the same time took vacation time instead of pay and deferred payments on their salaries. After another couple of months and no agreements on renegotiated contracts they call the Dr. one Friday afternoon and basically said dont bother reporting for work Monday. They did not offer him any severance or other options and never paid him another penny, including what they already owed him for his deferred salary, so he sued them. We found that the Clinic did breach their contract with the Dr. and that the Dr. did not breach his contract. After a lot of discussion we awarded him the full amount he was asking for, which was substantially lower than he could have asked for (over $200,000 less). Oh, I forgot that after the closing arguments and instructions from the judge they had us draw a slip of paper from a bowl, whoever drew #13 went home and the rest of us deliberated. I was #7. It was too bad that the gal that had wanted to be on the jury and was really into it all was the one that went home. We all felt bad for her, I think she was really holding back the tears. She did come for the final reading of our verdict and we all talked to her after.
Well, that was a long story but that has been my life this week. I guess it is something everyone should do at some time in their life, but twice, I'm not so sure!
