A federal judge in Pensacola, Florida, recently reprimanded a litigant for her behavior in court, describing it as “absolutely disgusting.” The incident involved the plaintiff, Lorraine M. Padavan, who admitted to sticking chewing gum under a courtroom table designated for counsel during proceedings.
U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell II expressed his disapproval in a June 13 order, responding to the revelation that the gum had been discovered by an assistant U.S. attorney. The attorney inadvertently transferred the gum onto her skirt when she brushed her leg against the table. The judge noted that remnants of the gum remained visible and hanging from the table after the incident.
The unusual reprimand followed an order issued by Wetherell on June 12, which called for identifying the responsible party and included a photograph of the gum in question. Padavan, represented by the law firm GrayRobinson, responded promptly to this order, acknowledging her actions in a letter of apology. In her communication, she expressed willingness to address the discomfort caused to the affected attorney and offered to cover any cleaning costs or replace damaged clothing.
Wetherell commended Padavan’s honesty, stating that her admission could have mitigated further consequences, as courtroom security footage clearly captured her placing the gum under the table. However, he emphasized the seriousness of the offense and warned that such behavior should not occur again. In a footnote, the judge indicated that if similar incidents were to happen in the future, he would impose penalties that reflect the “schoolchild-nature” of the violation.
The judge presented a variety of potential consequences, which might include sitting in the courtroom under supervision while writing “I will not stick my gum under a courtroom table again” a hundred times, assisting court custodial staff, or even scraping gum off the sidewalk in front of the courthouse.
Padavan has garnered attention beyond this incident, as she is currently engaged in a legal battle following a significant lottery win of $96 million alongside her late husband. The lawsuit involves allegations against a woman who allegedly took control of the couple’s assets after moving in with her husband before his death.
This curious courtroom episode has not only drawn criticism from the judge but also added a layer of intrigue to Padavan’s ongoing legal struggles as she seeks justice in a broader, complex case.
This article was automatically written by Open AI, and the individuals, facts, circumstances, and story may be inaccurate. Any article can be requested for removal, retraction, or correction by emailing contact@publiclawlibrary.org.