A Hauntingly Humorous Lawsuit: The Binaca and Basketball Tale

Do you know of any funny lawsuits? If not, allow me to introduce you to a true tale that has all the makings of a classic comedy, complete with unexpected twists and turns. This story involves a Binaca prank, a basketball coach, and a case that had all the humorous elements of a courtroom farce.

The Incident: A Binaca Flick in the Face

It was the early 1980s, and my husband was a high school teacher, basketball coach, and director of activities. He was working for a small school district in California's Central Valley, where the average class size was a mere 12 to 14 students. The school was notably short on administration, with the Principal/School District Superintendent also serving as the principal and the only administrator.

One day, as the students were lining up outside a locked classroom, a boy, perhaps feeling a bit rebellious, decided it would be a fun idea to spray his friend with Binaca, a breath freshener known for its distinctive smell and foam when used. He then flicked open a lighter, igniting the spray, singeing his friend's eyelashes and hair. Chaos ensued: a girl drenched in a strange, foamy substance, panicked and the perpetrator nervously explaining his intentions.

The Chaos Escalates

My husband arrived at the scene to find a chaotic situation. The girl's skin, thankfully unburnt, was distressed and upset, while the perpetrator was still in shock. Meanwhile, other students were clamoring to recount what happened. Attempts to confiscate the lit lighter from the boy proved fruitless, and both he and my husband found themselves on the ground. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

The Principal was on the phone with the police, but due to the unincorporated nature of their small community, an officer didn't arrive until after school hours. The school nurse tended to the girl, and my husband escorted the boy to the office.

The Funny Lawsuit

The pranking boy's mother felt the school had handled the situation appropriately, but his non-custodial father, who lived in LA, had other ideas. Filing a lawsuit, he named both my husband (claiming his son was injured in the fall) and the Principal (accusing unlawful imprisonment for keeping his son after school until the officer arrived).

Playing Basketball Amidst Chaos

The boy was a member of the basketball team, coached by my husband, and despite the legal drama, the lawyer believed it would be best to allow him to continue as a starter once his suspension was over. After all, the boy wasn't aware he was supposed to be injured, and the father, far across the state, knew nothing about it.

Weeks of the boy playing hard during practices and games caught the eye of his coach. Just days before the court date, the information was presented to the father, leading to the quick and quiet dismissal of the lawsuit. The case had all the makings of a comedy of errors, but the end result was a relatively sensible resolution.

Conclusion

This incident highlights the often unpredictable nature of high school pranks and the unexpected turns that can occur in legal disputes. While the situation started with a simple Binaca prank, it led to a lawsuit and a series of comedic mishaps, ultimately resolved without any serious consequences. It’s a story that will surely entertain and remind us that sometimes, life is just as chaotic and funny as it can be.