Story Archive

Cartoon Caper

Maurice Owens, 42, says he was riding an elevator at a Washington D.C. Metro station, and when he stepped out of the car, he slipped on a carelessly tossed banana peel, fell, and injured his hip and leg. He sued Metro demanding $15,000 in compensation. But the transit agency had a defense: security camera video shows Owens in the elevator (where he glances up at the security camera at least three times), then, when the doors opened, he can be seen throwing something on the ground (“this object was later identified as a banana peel,” a transit police report notes). In the video, Owens then “dramatically” falls down. His lawsuit was thrown out, and Owens has been arrested for fraud; he faces three years in prison. “Through our investment in digital camera systems across the system,” says Metro spokesman Dan Stessel, “we are demonstrating our commitment to protecting fare-paying riders and the region’s taxpayers from fraudulent claims.” (RC/Washington Post) ...Yes, it’s much better for taxpayers to foot the bill for his prosecution and imprisonment.