When my kids fail to pick up their toys or papers after repeated reminders to do so, I warn them that they may end up in the trash. This generally prompts them to scurry around and throw everything into a dark corner in their closets, negating the threat for the time being.
Some parents have more backbone than I and follow through on their promises. David Werking, a forty-something Michigan man, sued his parents for throwing out his – ahem- adult magazines, videos and toys – and won. When he moved into their Grand Haven home in 2016 following his divorce, his belongings came with him, including his special collection. With a “my house, my rules” mentality, his parents warned him to not bring these items into their home.
Determined to have the last scintillating word, David did what any rational son would do and sued his parents, alleging that the mature materials were worth a whopping $25,000. His parents admitted to tossing what they apparently considered trash, and told the court that they had warned their son that they would throw the items out if he brought them into their home. The judge dismissed their defense and ruled in favor of David, giving parents and son time to determine the damages.
A surprise twist in this already bizarre case is the fact that his parents kept some of the most offensive (in their opinion) items and placed them in a safe deposit box, fearing that they were illegal. I don’t know if they did this to protect their son from legal trouble, or if they were keeping evidence to turn him in. Either way, the police determined nothing was amiss and David was not charged.
Emails between father and son are quite entertaining, with David suggesting sites in the event his father was inspired by his son’s arousing assets. His father’s response definitely points in the opposite direction. The saying “like father, like son,” meets an exception in this family.
***UPDATE: The Court ordered the parents o pay David $30,441 for his collection, and another $14,500 to his attorney.
