Update on the kid dentist

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Well, I got a call from the detective that is overseeing the punk who threw his temper tantrum at me. He told me that his dad has a landscaping business and has offered to mow my lawn this year as restitution.

I'm just not sure if I want this kid on my property or not. I'm worried that by the season is half over with, he is going to have the typical teen attitude of being forced to do a job.

So far, my dental bills have been taken care of in full. I still haven't received any other compensation so far. The detective said that may take awhile yet til the kid has completed all his requirements set by the judge.

I do like the idea of not having to mow this year. My yard is not huge, but it is about an acre n a half and does take time to mow.

What would you do? I'm just leary of the whole idea at this time..........SS

 

[JB]

Re: Update on the kid dentist

I would let the boy mow the lawn and treat him with respect for accepting responsibility for his actions.

 

[tommays]

Re: Update on the kid dentist

I agree with the lawn mowing to a point

As a young one i was mowing many lawns for money and somewere around 1973 it ON LI it became more diffcult to get work as people started to want companys with insurance to do there yard work

 

[v1_0]

Re: Update on the kid dentist

What would you do? I'm just leary of the whole idea at this time..........SS

I'd figure out how much the going rate is to cut your lawn. Then how many cuts you are going to need this season. That should give you the 'retail' value of how much you are being 'compensated'.

From the kid's perspective: being that they are in the business of cutting lawns, *their* cost on this would be less...

I dunno. My thought on this is that if it were me, I would try to get the kid to do 'community service' somewhere - perhaps a soup kitchen, or something of that sort. The hope would be that the kid would either gain some compassion for others, or maybe be happier with his own position, or see what can happen when things go wrong.

If you get the feeling that this kid is unreachable, then I would just take the money and run. Leave the details of where that comes from to the kid & parents. I can cut my own lawn, and a few extra dollars for something else is always nice. And if he is far gone, then cutting your lawn wouldn't teach him anything anyway other than resenting you.

-V

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Update on the kid dentist

I would not want him on my property at all....
In fact, I would never want to see his little zit face for fear of smashing it in....

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Update on the kid dentist

actually, i'm of a different view. i think if would be a good jesture on you part, to have him work it off. show him that you have no hard feelings (even if you do), that you are a better man that can forgive. this very well make a better impression on him. if he gets out of line, i'm sure he has a probation officer, or social worker who is still, watching his case until the restitution is made. this in turn would put him back in front of the judge.

 

[JRJ]

Re: Update on the kid dentist

I'd let him mow it and if he does a poor job, fire him.

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: Update on the kid dentist

What did he do in the first place anyways i cant find the orogional thread?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Update on the kid dentist

What did he do in the first place anyways i cant find the orogional thread?

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=241757......

 

[oddjob]

Re: Update on the kid dentist

I agree with Haut.

I would not let that walking time bomb near me or my love ones/things. What some of you elders are suggesting is from another time in our sociaty. Along with showing the kid respect maybe SS should apoligize to the kid for being in his way as well.

I also like the idea of the soup kitchen work. If he was good at mowing lawns dont ya think he would have already been working for daddy in the first place?

 

[External Combustion]

Re: Update on the kid dentist

I am an old fart and remember fondly the days when you could have a kid do something like that and learn from his mistakes. The society was better off because of the community expectations then. Unfortunately things are different today.

The legal facts of today changes what was once reasonable action. When the kid is on your property you are legally responsable for his well being. If he gets hurt, real or imagined you will be spending time and money in court defending yourself even if you win. Also, unfortunately, many of these brats have been educated to these facts by their peers and some of their teachers.

I find it far more reasonable to pursue financial recompense from him as that is something that his parents and he will feel the most. If you think that actual labor will teach him to act better in public, then advocate that in court so the judge will sentence him to public service supervised by the court. Those who receive such service usually are expempted from torts brought by the convicted perp.

Protect yourself from further damage first. Act in compassion for him if you want to second. "Be wise as serpents and meek as doves."

 

[aspeck]

Re: Update on the kid dentist

Am I missing something here? The DAD has a landscaping business and the DAD said the BUSINESS would mow your lawn, or the KID?

If you like the idea of you lawn professionally manicured, and you are willing to accept that as settlement, then go for it. If it is the kid that is doing it, I am sure the juvie officer will make sure it is done right. If not, you have a recourse. But it might be that the DAD will make him work off the payments for this and send someone else over to do YOUR lawn, to make sure it is done right. (BTW, the BUSINESS should have the insurance necessary to cover anything that would happen while they are on your property)

If you are comfortable with it, go for it. No problem seen here ... you can catch more flys with honey, than you can with stink! You might be the best thing that happens to the kid ... and maybe you could have Carl over to talk to him ... sounds like some of the same issues when Carl was his age. Might be of help to straighten the kid around.

 

[BF]

Re: Update on the kid dentist

What would you do? I'm just leary of the whole idea at this time..........SS

I'd also be leary. If it was just done through the business, like you were just a regular customer... maybe. But, I for one wouldn't be interested in having this sulking, angry young man showing up on my property once a week. This is the kid who at first said you groped his butt, right???? It was only the surveilance cameras that showed the truth? Do you have cameras around your property? What if a window gets broken somehow? Or your garage gets broken into? If something like that happened, I'd wonder whether it was some kind of "pay back". So, I'd just as soon not have him coming around my place.

Depends on what you want for compensation... How about just the cash equivalent of what those lawn services are worth? Convenient that Dad has a lawn care business. You can suggest that the father put the kid to work to earn the $$ to pay you. Then you can hire someone else to cut your grass if you want. Or maybe you put the money away for when you need a new set of dentures. What you do with the compensation shouldn't be their concern.

It's also not clear whether the father is trying to figure a way teach the kid some responsibility, or whether it's just easy/free for him to have some of his crew (more responsible people) stop by your place to keep this from costing him any cash money. Maybe the kid won't be involved in this at all?

that's my $.02

 

[i386]

Re: Update on the kid dentist

I would let the boy mow the lawn and treat him with respect for accepting responsibility for his actions.

I wouldn't call accusing Mayfloat of grabbing him taking responsibility for his actions. No telling what Mayfloat would have been dragged through if it were not for the cameras.

If the kid is doing the grass cutting then just maybe his dad is trying to teach him a lesson. More than likely though the dad is just trying to use his business to work off his sons "debt to society".

It's a tough call without knowing all the details and knowing the character of the father.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Update on the kid dentist

Given the info presented, I would not want the kid mowing my yard. I think he should do community service to the COMMUNITY.

Let him do his time where he will be supervised, like picking up litter as part of a road crew, or working with the township doing repairs in parks and playgrounds.

Cutting lawns when your father has a lawn service is a walk in the park for the kid, and not much of restitution or community service.

 

[dave11]

Re: Update on the kid dentist

I would not want the liability of that kid, not the father's company, doing anything on or any where near my property. Let him do community service.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Update on the kid dentist

I had a long talk with my wife about this matter. She doesn't want the kid on the property and neither do I. Mainly due to his ability to make up stories and what he could say later on.

I talked to his dad yesterday. I feel that he is more sorry than his son. He is a very dissapointed father no doubt. The kid will be on probation until he is 18. I told the father that we didn't really want his son on our property. He understood and said that he wouldn't, it would be one of his crews doing the work. He noticed that I burn wood for my heat and also offered to bring in enough wood this spring to heat my house next winter as well as the mowing. WOW, this to me is a good deal. I'm getting at the age of splitting and stacking is a big pain in my back. So we made the deal between ourselves but will have the probation officer make notes on the deal as well.

The boy will be doing community service at several of the retirement communities helping seniors with their daily needs. I like this idea because I know how some of them dirty old men are . (Some of the ladies are just as bad too) Just might be a way for him to learn some respect for the elders.

This might not be a cash in pocket deal, but the wear and tear on the ole body is worth it to me. Plus this gives way more time to spend on the boat on weekends.

Thanks for the ideas and thoughts. They were very helpful in our decesion on what to do..............SS

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Update on the kid dentist

that is a very equitable agreement. may the boy have to change a few diapers, or atleast empty the trash with them in it. laundry room would also be a great place to work.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Update on the kid dentist

I talked to his dad yesterday. I feel that he is more sorry than his son.

Of course he is. He's ultimately responsible. He probably talked to an attorney and realized that permanent disfigurement = big time liability and serious monetary/punitive damages. He probably had dreams of "Mayfloats Landscaping Company". This makes him very likely to try and make you happy.

It's a testament to your character that your handling this yourself vs. litigating it...

 

[BF]

Re: Update on the kid dentist

good for you. Hopefully the "kid" turns around, but being 16 (=almost adult) and apparently having a lack of remorse for such a stupid action and its consequences doesn't make it seem likely to me. I agree that the Dad probably feels like he dodged a bullet here. What happened to you is bad enough, but what if it had been a pretty young waitress that took that condiment gun in the mouth/eyes/nose. Imagine if the injured person had a lawyer as a parent?

I think that young man got extraordinarily lucky that it was you that got hit. Because of your dental history, the damage to your teeth doesn't seem to bother you as much as it would most people. I would not be taking it nearly as well if I had my teeth knocked out. I may have had a lawyer involved from the start.... I'm not sure. The accusation of sexual misconduct would've got me bothered. If it had been one of my kids that was the victim on this, I'd have been going for the throat.

Anyway, it sounds like you're getting some meaningful compensation, and that's how it should be.