Case Setup: Civil Dispute Over Lawn Incidents

  • Bailiff: This case involves a neighborhood dispute. The Plaintiffs, Michael and Peggy Emmens, are suing the Defendants, Bob Grimshuk and Joe Bonnagoes Jr., for the following allegations: toilet-papering plaintiffs’ lawn and egging their car; chasing plaintiffs around their yard with drones; hosting large, loud parties late at night and dumping trash in plaintiffs’ yard; digging a trench to divert water onto the Plaintiff’s property, causing flooding, and then reporting the Plaintiff to the EPA when they attempted to address the issue. 

    The Defendants, however, argue that these actions were in retaliation for the Plaintiffs— the Emmens—constantly blasting loud country music; neglecting to clean up their foul-smelling, overgrown, debris-strewn backyard; encouraging their five young children to scream and behave wildly at all hours; letting their goats loose; and allowing their dogs to bark all night, run loose on the Defendants’ property, and repeatedly defecate on their lawn.

  • During the reading, plaintiffs and defendants are making faces at each other, laughing, and defendant Joe Bonnagoes Jr. makes a paper airplane and sails it toward the plaintiffs.

  • President Judge Filmore: (bangs gavel, takes a hearty sip of coffee) “Oh, someone must have put almond milk in my coffee today. Alright, Attorney River Winslow, you may begin.” 

  • Plaintiff Attorney River Winslow then gives an impassioned speech, describing how her clients, the Emmens, were wronged: Your Honor, my clients are here before you today because they have been wronged by the men you see before you. 

  • President Judge Filmore: as Attorney Winslow speaks, he holds his head in pain and starts groaning. Takes another sip of coffee, starts to cough.

  • Plaintiff Attorney Winslow: Continues with her speech: The defendants, Bob Grimshuk and Joe Bonnagoes Jr., HARRASSED AND HARMED Mike and Peggy Emmen and their children, goats, and dogs with their antics. The Emmens have SUFFERED horribly as a result and now have nightmares about drones and floods….

  • Judge A Filmore, still holding his head, yells that “Oh my God my head is KILLING me, we have to adjour….” dramatically dry-heaves several times, and slumps over. 

  • Defense Attorney Rex Donovan says, “NOW look at what you’ve done!” loudly to the horrified Plaintiff Attorney Winslow with a smirk.

People gasp, squirm, and scream. 

Bailiff: Everyone remain calm! (takes action, checks for pulse then shakes his head)
Bailiff: Elliott, call 911!
Elliott (clerk) proceeds to make the call in the background.
Bailiff: (Lifts mug and looks at it suspiciously) This coffee does NOT look right…It seems clear that President Judge Filmore has been poisoned. Plaintiffs, Defendants, you’re dismissed. The rest of you, stick around until we figure out what’s going on.
Plaintiffs and Defendants leave, glaring at each other and muttering.

Bailiff Questions for Clerk Elliott Dunmore:
Bailiff: Now, let’s get to the bottom of this. I first call Elliott Dunmore, President Judge Filmore’s clerk, for questioning.
Elliott (clerk): Sits or stands at a microphone, nervously.
Bailiff: Thank you for calling 911. Before they get here, let’s have a brief chat.
Bailiff: Are you happy with your job as Judge Filmore’s clerk?
Clerk: Sure… President Judge Atticus Filmore is, was, not an easy person to get along with and had to have everything JUST so, but mostly things were fine. Mostly. I don’t know. (evasive, nervous, awkward, looking around, fidgeting, shifting).
Bailiff: I heard that you were pretty upset with President Judge Filmore. What was that about?
Clerk: Well… I used to look up to him, and, ok… I found out he was cheating on his wife last week, and it was just really awful. He said if I told anyone he was going to fire me.
Bailiff: Did you see anyone else enter his chambers this morning?
Clerk: I saw both attorneys in this case and Judge Leonard Stratton and Judge Claire Weston, but that’s it for today. (shrugs)
Bailiff: Thank you, Elliott. You’re excused.

Bailiff questions for Rex Donovan, Defense Attorney:
Bailiff: Next up is Defense Attorney Rex Donovan. I remember you and Attorney Winslow were in President Judge Filmore’s chambers before trial. What were you discussing?
Rex: (very cold, uncaring, and arrogant) Yeah. I was in there with Attorney Winslow discussing our case. She really needs to keep her idiot clients in line instead of allowing them to cry victim. (seeming bored) Ok, I’m sorry that this happened, but people die every day. He wasn’t even supposed to BE here today. I thought we were getting Judge Weston, who’s at least somewhat fair.
Bailiff: You sure don’t seem troubled by this.
Rex: (bitter) He always ruled against me in court. Always. It was such a joke. As for his death, well, he probably got sick of listening to Attorney Winslow’s rambling and just keeled over for all I know. It’s a wonder we all didn’t. Look, I have other things to do than sit here and chat. If you’re not going to arrest me, then I’ll be on my way. (stands and walks off as Bailiff calls, “Don’t go TOO far!”).

Bailiff Questions for Attorney River Winslow:
Bailiff: Attorney River Winslow. How did you feel about President Judge Filmore, and what happened while you were in chambers this morning?
Plaintiff Attorney Winslow: (emotional, speaking fast yet loud) OH my gosh I can’t believe this happened! I have to call my sister and tell her, she’ll never believe me! Will this be on the news? Maybe I should give an interview! I can wear my hemp necklace with responsibly sourced seashells that she gave me for Christmas. I make jewelry, too. I sell castor bean jewelry on Etsy, it’s the latest thing. Maybe I should wear that for the interview?
Bailiff: Focus, there has been a MURDER here. President Judge Filmore - what were your thoughts about him, and what happened while you were in chambers earlier? 
Plaintiff Attorney: Oh! He wasn’t taking me seriously at all. He barely looked at my brief. He was mad at Attorney Donovan, but I don’t remember much more than that because of THIS! I still can’t believe this! (almost shrieking): How are you so calm!? (Bailiff excuses her).

Bailiff questions for Judge Stratton:
Bailiff: Judge Stratton. Why were you in President Judge Filmore’s chambers earlier? 
Judge Stratton: I was assisting him with his cases since he had his shoulder surgery. I felt bad for him, so I decided to help out here or there. He is an old law school buddy of mine. Was… (looking down sadly)
Bailiff: So you two had a friendship since law school? I had no idea, your honor. 
Judge Stratton: (straightening up proudly) Absolutely. We were a little competitive with each other at times, yet we always had each other’s backs. So when his clerk Elliott came running up to me the other day saying he was going to quit, I wanted to tell Judge Filmore right away. But Elliott swore me to secrecy since this was in confidence, and I reasoned that perhaps things may work out better if he resigned after all. In fact, I believe he was planning to do so today.

Bailiff questions for Judge Claire Weston: 
Bailiff: Judge Claire Weston. How do you feel about President Judge Filmore and what happened here? I know you were supposed to preside over this case originally. 
Judge Weston: Yes… sorry, I (sniffling)... He had rotator cuff surgery and asked me if I would help him by filling in on days he had physical therapy, like today. I was doing great and really working my way up, making a name for myself. I had no idea Judge Stratton was helping, too. President Judge Filmore had physical therapy today, so yes, I was planning to preside over this case. But last night, he canceled his physical therapy because he wanted to do this particular case so badly; I don’t know why. 
Bailiff: What happened to your hand? It was fine yesterday.
Judge Weston: (nervously covering her bandage) It’s nothing. Just a rash. Nothing, really.
Bailiff: Do you know who may have wanted him gone? 
Judge Weston: If I were to guess, I’d say Attorney Rex Donovan because he hates being shown up by anyone or told that he’s wrong, and President Judge Filmore seemed to really enjoy doing just that to him. Or maybe his clerk, Elliott, because he seemed so angry at him last week...

Bailiff points out the clues to the audience so far:

  • Clerk Elliott claims nobody outside the current individuals was in President Judge Filmore’s chambers today, so nobody else had access to the judge’s coffee mug.

  • Plaintiff Attorney Winslow described the tension between President Judge Filmore and Defense Attorney Rex Donovan.

  • Judge Claire Weston believes either Defense Attorney Rex Donovan or Clerk Elliott Dunmore may have wanted President Judge Filmore gone.

  • Judge Stratton pointed out that Clerk Elliott was planning to quit that day.

  • Clerk Elliott was very upset with President Judge Filmore last week.

  • Attorney Donovan was very cold and defensive.

  • Judge Stratton was competitive with President Judge Filmore at times.

  • Judge Claire Weston was ambitious and suddenly had a bandage on her hand.

Bailiff tells Audience: Ladies and gentlemen, this is a crime scene, so this area is as of now off-limits so the police may do their investigation. The suspects’ offices are also being searched at this time. You are all now witnesses and need to proceed downstairs on the ground floor in the Evidence Room/formerly known as the Assembly Room. The mug and any new evidence or clues will be available for examination. Please refer to your Game Instruction sheet where you’ll find your QR code to scan to play the game. Good luck, and you are dismissed!