Court win nets Mich. man 33,500 pennies

[CMF Newsman]

HOWELL TOWNSHIP, Mich. - A penny saved is a penny earned, but one man believes 33,500 pennies won are best donated to a worthy cause.

Bob Wilson, who won a small claims court case last month, will donate the pennies to the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency, which has helped him with heating bills.

Wilson was given the pennies by Karl Stepen, owner of NSK Motorsports in Fowlerville, after a judge ruled in Wilson's favor and awarded him $335.

Stepen said he paid Wilson in pennies to show his contempt for Wilson. "We paid him in legal U.S. currency," Stepen said.

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[Homebrew Dave]

I looked high and low for a picture of the bum from Weird Al Yankovic's "UHF" so I could caption it with his catchphrase, "Hey Mister! Ya got any change?" Sadly, I could not find a photograph of him in the character. However I did learn that his name is Vance Colvig Jr. and that he was born in 1918 and passed away in 1991. I also learned that he got his start back in 1959 playing the role of Bozo the Clown on Los Angeles television station KTLA.

Dave

[el Gusano]

I paid a speeding ticket in Lafayette GA in pennies once. I was going 56 in a 45 and they wrote the ticket for 72 which jacked up the cost. I paid the legitimate amount in quarters, though.

[daworm]

I had thought that pennies do not have to be accepted as legal tender for any amount over $1.00, but I was mistaken.

[Gary]

And for those that are curious about the legality of coinage as currency, and the legality of currency at all, here's a great page on SnopesCom about it:

www.snopes.com/business/money/pennies.asp

[Gary]

Wow... Worm and I tied on that one. 4:24pm for both of us. ;D

[daworm]

Must have beat you by a second or so...

Interesting to note that before 1965 (I think) it was ok to refuse pennies or coins for more than certain amounts. Probably why the idea persists.

[ScarlettP]

As a small business person, I LOVE to get paid in small change and bills. Waiters/Waitresses are my friends! Especially at Halloween. It saves me a trip to the bank to get change.

[Deleted]

NOW I understand how places like that downtown music festival can get away with using their own "money". I still don't agree with it, but at least I understand it.

[Jay]

*grin* Would have loved to see them delivering all those pennies. Musta been real funny

[el Gusano]

I took a copy of the law with me when I went to pay.

When he said he couldn't take it, I whipped out the copy. (Didn't hurt that a lawyer was standing behind me to pay as well.)

[Ringleman#5]

A co worker of mine paid his final divorce settlement of $1000 with pennies. He bought 5 paint cans, punched holes on their bottoms to render them useless for anything else, and arranged for courier service to deliver them to her place of business. The courier called saying she was refusing them, so he told the guy he'd pay him to bring them back. A short time later the courier called saying she had called her lawyer who advised her to keep them.
I seem to recall the cans when turned upside down spelled B-I-T-C-H

[Jay]

Heh heh, that's too funny........I guess the lawyer thought it was better having 'em that way than maybe fighting to get the money later if he didn't want to give it... Of course, it wasn't the lawyer who'd have to roll up the pennies or drag 'em to the bank,