Those darn ghosts!

[Phentex]

Eatery that won't share space with ghosts sued
Associated Press
Friday, September 9, 2005

Orlando, Fla. --- The landlords of an Orlando entertainment complex are suing two restaurateurs for refusing to move into a building under renovation because they claim it is haunted.

Subcontractors working there and others have reported seeing ghosts or apparitions, said Lynn Franklin, attorney for the restaurant owners.

"It's very serious," Franklin said Thursday. "A lot of people are corroborating having seen incidents in this location."

The $2.6 million suit, filed last month by the owners of Church Street Station, says an exorcism was refused.

"I asked them if these were good ghosts or bad ghosts, and if they were good ghosts why it was a problem," said David Simmons, an attorney representing the building's owners.

Christopher and Yoko Chung, the owners of Amura Japanese Restaurant, had planned to move in last October but backed out of the lease.

Franklin said Christopher Chung's religious beliefs as a Jehovah's Witness required him to "avoid encountering or having any association with spirits or demons," and Chung also objected to the offer of an exorcism because it is a Roman Catholic rite not accepted by his faith.

The lawsuit asks a judge to decide whether the building is haunted and, if so, whether the ghosts would interfere with the restaurant's business. Renovations have stopped, and the building remains empty.

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Don't you find it amusing that a judge is seriously being asked to determine if the place is haunted? :eyes:

[onager]

1. There IS a precedent in Florida.

Believe it or not. I don't have time to do the necessary Googling from work (lunch hour's nearly over).

But it should be pretty easy to find. A Florida judge actually allowed two Fundie twits (a husband-wife team) to come into his courtroom and act as "expert witnesses" on the subject of demonic posession.

I believe that was in the famous case where the kid killed himself after listening to Judas Priest, and the parents sued the band.

Heck, there was even a TV movie made about it. With Andy Griffith playing the Fundie Demon Slayer, IIRC.

Now if I were the judge, I wouldn't be able to resist...

I'm sorry, folks. But the last time an American court allowed Spirit Testimony was Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. And it didn't work out very well...

[Phentex]

3. Oh, how I wish you were the judge!!!

:rofl:

[shrike]

2. Sounds like a desperate excuse

To get out of a lease. Wouldn't be surprised if it is thrown out of court.

However, my husband has had ghostly experiences and (apparently) psychic dreams. (He is agnostic.) And I accept his experiences at face value because he accepts my belief in God. Only fair.

I have never had any paranormal experiences of any kind, btw.

Don't know much about Jehovah's Witnesses. Would think they'd have some kind of exorcism rite, since their members are not allowed to traffic with spirits. Eh, it's an excuse to get out of the lease.

[immoderate]

4. Ghosts get a bad rap!

I've met many people who have had some "experience" with ghosts. I usually ask , "What did they do to you?"

They always say, "Nothing."

"So why are you scared? They don't do anything."

"I dunno ... but if you were there..."

All these people encountered ghosts, and nothing happened. I don't know of anyone that's been harmed by a ghost, and neither did the people who believed in them.

--IMM

[RebelOne]

5. My feeling is that you don't have to fear the dead.

It's the living ones that you should fear.

[salvorhardin]

6. I grew up in a cemetery (literally)

My father was the caretaker for a largeish cemetery and our house was right on the grounds. We always used to say that we had the most well-mannered neighbors. Quiet too.