14-year-old girl sues friend over missing iPod

You gotta love the litigousness of youth -- especially when there's an iPod involved. A spat over a missing iPod resulted in a lawsuit in Wheaton, Illinois, when 14-year-old Shannon Derrik sued her (now former) friend Stephanie Eick for losing her brand new iPod. It seems that Shannon made the fool mistake of lending her iPod to Stephanie, who decided it'd be a good idea to give back the iPod by leaving it on Shannon's desk rather than waiting for her to return from the restroom to hand it over in person. The iPod managed to disappear -- apparently someone in that classroom had some sticky fingers -- and so Shannon sued for $475 in damages and court fees (she says she did a LOT of babysitting to pay for that iPod). The case was initially tossed because of an improper filing, but it looks like the two girls will finally square off in court in about a month (the word on the street is that they're gearing up for a serious showdown in the cafeteria when school starts up again). Ryan and I will be headed to Wheaton next month to liveblog the entire trial, we really have no choice to put all our resources into coverage of a case of this magnitude.

[Thanks, Ricardo]

[Silver R. Wolfe @ Aug 23rd 2006 4:56AM]

Yes, because 14 year olds really need an iPod.

[rdrkx80 @ Aug 23rd 2006 5:03AM]

yes, we do. I though suing, she's probbably going to end up spending more on court costs than she'll gain. unless she includes court costs in her suit

[Unomi @ Aug 23rd 2006 5:06AM]

Well, it really shows the 'monkey-sees-monkey-does' effect on little prats like these girls.

"Oh, my iPod is nicked. You've gotta pay, cause you left it uncontrolled, you stupid leech. I'm gonna call my lawyer first thing in the morning. I think you better should do it too...."

I can remember that these things first went up to the parents, but this article reads like it's up to the girls and the judge alone?

- Unomi -

[D2 @ Aug 23rd 2006 5:10AM]

alright silver, what is the appropriate age to get an ipod? no one need an ipod, necessity certainly isnt obtained at some random age you decide.

[Pat @ Aug 23rd 2006 5:19AM]

If she worked hard to earn the money to buy her own iPod, who are YOU to judge whether or not she deserves one? If she's mature enough to even work at that age, why not an iPod? The situation is far different than if some parent bought one for their spoiled adolescent.

[George @ Aug 23rd 2006 5:28AM]

I had an iriver H320 when i was 14... i used it all the time but there was never a need, there isnt a need for anyone.

Sueing thing just seems stupid to me though, i would expect the person to pay for it anyway without going to court.

[Rohit Kapur @ Aug 23rd 2006 5:30AM]

lol... I yearn for the day when a 6 year old files a suit against the bully who takes his/her lunch money.

Also, it would be just fan-freakin-tastic if you guys actually DID liveblog the whole thing. lol...

[Matt Dusza @ Aug 23rd 2006 5:53AM]

HOLY HELL!!! I live in Downers Grove Il, about 20 minutes from Wheaton, and my little sister actually knows Stephine Eick! My Cousin Lives in wheaton and also knows the girl. How strange it is that im hearing of this news on a world wide gadget site and not from my gossipy sister's mouth! I am SO going to this trial and witnessing this!

[All thieves should be slaughtered @ Aug 23rd 2006 5:57AM]

Do you really believe the supposed "friend" really gave it back to her by putting it on her desk? I am not ignorant, that is a lie. Thieves always lie to avoid consequences.
This will teach others not to be so fast to ask others to loan things to them. Accountability, baby.

[Michael @ Aug 23rd 2006 5:59AM]

You guys are actually going to wheaton to live blog this trial??? GET A LIFE!!! Why not spend your time doing something better? First it's some ripoff superbowl commercial, now some lame trial?

;)

[Russ @ Aug 23rd 2006 6:00AM]

Hah. This sounds exactly word for word what happened in my High School Economics class. Some girl on the other side of the room lent her friend an ipod, who returned it by setting it on her desk while she was in the restroom, it was stolen blablabla. It was pretty intense *rolls eyes*. The girls actually got into multiple screaming fights in the middle of class over it, resulting in the teacher separating them in opposite corners of the room & forbidding anyone from speaking while security arrived. It was completely out of control... haha when I first read this article, if it wasn't for the age and location I would have sworn this was how the whole debacle ended up. Just goes to show ya, iPods make people crazy. Long Live Vinyl ;)

[Jay @ Aug 23rd 2006 6:02AM]

Hey Matt, maybe you should liveblog it for Engadget ;)

[Silver R. Wolfe @ Aug 23rd 2006 6:05AM]

@rdrkx80

I suppose that at that age an iPod would be overkill, or any other mp3 player that packed 30+ GBs of storage. It's not about iPods specifically, but can you really see why a 14 year old would need that much space?

[Eli @ Aug 23rd 2006 6:07AM]

I think they're both retarded, but really, who the hell would leave an iPod on someone's desk in a classroom? I went to a small school with virtually zero crime, and I still wouldn't do that. Hell, I left my Rio in the library for ten minutes once and someone stole it. Small electronics are just too tempting of a target.

[Benjamin @ Aug 23rd 2006 6:11AM]

LOL

[dext3r @ Aug 23rd 2006 6:11AM]

Wheaton sucks. It figures someone sues over a lost iPod in DuPage County.

[Nizam Rahman @ Aug 23rd 2006 6:12AM]

Michael... Obviously your sarcasm, if it was indeed sarcasm, doesn't carry over when you put 'lame' in your comments. Might wanna think your wording next time...

But then again, a liveblog of the trial would be freaking awesome.

[PugRallye @ Aug 23rd 2006 6:12AM]

And this is news worthy for what reason exactly?

Oh yeah, it mentions the iPod.

"Girl sues over lost iRiver" would make the news wouldn't it?

Of course it wouldn't. This is yet another non-story but it mentions the iPod so it's "news"....

[diulei @ Aug 23rd 2006 6:22AM]

Although no one really *needs* an iPod, why the hell should a 14 year old not have one?

The iPod is just the walkman/discman of the 21st century. I got my first Walkman when I was 10 or so in the early 90s. Sure iPods can hold a crapload more of music, but it's the same damn thing.

[All thieves should be slaughtered @ Aug 23rd 2006 6:35AM]

Long Live the U.S. of America. (no, this is not sarcasm for those who know nothing)

[Elora Ranma @ Aug 23rd 2006 6:45AM]

Well, my first walkman did not cost as much as the latest console. Actually, no walkman was that expensive. Who does let a 16 year old carry a 500$ device to school?
And iRiver would not get the attention because quality does not necessarily create social trends. Just look at Paris Hilton -whose first and let us hope last record probably was on the missing iPod-.

[Fred @ Aug 23rd 2006 6:51AM]

Maybe if Americans gave as much attention to things like global warming as they do to lawsuits we'd all be saved a lot of trouble. Don't see it happening though. Bluddy selfish Americans

[David Swe @ Aug 23rd 2006 6:51AM]

Only in America...for now...God really needs to bless America.
What are the parents doing, btw?

[All thieves should be slaughtered @ Aug 23rd 2006 7:05AM]

What are "global warming" reports going to do? You think the 290 million Americans can stop the pollution from the other 7 BILLION people? Get smart, people are not going to stop buying packaged food and goods because of one article, a trillion articles, or more awareness efforts.
Welcome to reality.

[Michael @ Aug 23rd 2006 7:09AM]

Wow, if this had happened when I was 14, the principal would've marched both of them into his/her office, then systamatically gone through the school until someone fessed up. Someone was responsible and it was only a matter of time before they were found out (because, you know, kids do like to brag...).

Besides, what idiot lones their i-Whatever device and then walks away, and what idiot thinks leaving it on a desk out in the open is a good idea?

Guess things have changed. Nobody is accountable nor responsible, nor do the schools or the parents take any role in this process to teach children. So we have to waste valuable court time with a case like this. I hope the judge has a few good words to say. I'd love to see this on Judge Judy. I shudder to think what the prosecuting girl will be like when she grows up.

[Michael @ Aug 23rd 2006 7:11AM]

Sorry, that should be *systematically*

[Ktino @ Aug 23rd 2006 7:12AM]

I agree with betty and Fred.
Fucking Selfish Americans Will Rot in Hell. Jesus said that if someone takes your jacket from you, you should give him/her also your shirt. You found courts and you think that everything will be solved through lawsuits. You are such an idiots, everyone around the world hates your guts, but how will you know, the propaganda in your stupid country does not show you the real news, they only
tell you what they want you to know(this article is a perfect example of what they consider "news"). I have a lot more to say but this is not the right place. Fuck you all, I hate you for all the problems that you cause to humanity

Anyone, use my email if you want to contact me, I have no problem to answer you.

[anthony @ Aug 23rd 2006 7:17AM]

to Silver R. Wolfe


I do not think it is enough space or more than enough space for a 14 or 16 year old. Waaay back when I was 14, back BEFORE CDs, I had audio tapes and I used to record my favorite songs from the radio (now you can just download them) or my friends would create mix tapes for me. I had tons and tons of audio tapes of variouv music that were hard to manage. Then came cds and burning cds. So I can totally understand a 14 or 16 year old having a 30g ipod, because, probably in your mind, it is 1985 and not that many people carry around so much music, but in 2007 people do at all various ages. With so many places to download music it is a wonder how some people manage it all, i guess an ipod would be better than trying to manage all that music on audio tapes.

[anthony @ Aug 23rd 2006 7:24AM]

to Michael:

I agree with you. Had the girl told her teacher, perhaps this would not have escalated to such a degree as in going to court. A simple search of the class and everyone's desks would have turned up the ipod. Frankly it is a big no no to lend friends high priced items like ipods, psps, cell phones, because you do not know what kind of person you would be dealing with. Personally I hope the girl wins her case and gets the money back for her ipod, though it would not teach either girls any lessons in dealing with others.

[betty @ Aug 23rd 2006 7:24AM]

i still do not like america.

[Brian @ Aug 23rd 2006 7:42AM]

Glen Ellyn, IL.

Right next to Wheaton. I'm quite shocked to see this break from traffic, curfew, and parking tickets in the legal system for such a serious case. Not much happens in these Western suburbs, so I'm not too shocked. But I wouldn't be surprised if our one homeless woman was the thief.

On another note, I'm 16 and have 26 gigs of music on my iPod and more on my computer.

[Jakg @ Aug 23rd 2006 7:47AM]

Well i am actually 15 and do have a Creative Zen Sleek, and it is pretty full of music, but people are a little crazy when it comes to iPods (in my mind overpriced, in the UK a 30 Gb model is £209, yet for my brand new Sleek 20 Gb was £109! and yes i know mine doesn't play videos, but if i really wanted to do that i'd buy a pda with usb host (like my poor old Loox 720 RIP) and then just plug it in and have a half decent screen! anyway, back on topic), you have to remember that iPod ownership is a status symbol, i know people that buy an iPod just to have one for their 20 mp3's, or buy the headphones to look "cool" (muggable more like!), and i'm sure that was the very reason why she lent it out, but tbh i don't blame here for sueing, if it is the girls fault its gone then she needs to pay, and if her and her parents are being unco-operative, then threatening legal action is the next step (and yes i have had experience, ive lost a pen drive after some **** kicked it, but his parents bought me a shiny new 2 Gb one so i ain't complaining), and the same with my poor Loox, who got replaced by a Dell X51v FOC

i dont know what the fuss is about really

[Jakg @ Aug 23rd 2006 7:51AM]

oh and btw, i have left money on a teachers desk (£10 for a CHARITY no less, after school when no-one was around, the teacher appeared 5 mins later and it was gone - and this is at a tiny, quiet UK school

[Troy @ Aug 23rd 2006 8:10AM]

Now let’s look at these comments. We are so clueless on why the “World” hates us, in fact lets just drop some bombs on anyone that hates us, that will resolve all our problems.

I wish to thank those willing to speak up from outside of the USA, your thoughts are not falling on deaf ears.

It’s my understanding that anyone underage in the US can’t enter into a contract or bring a lawsuit, so I can only assume this means the “Girls” parents or guardians are really behind the lawsuit and that makes this story even more pathetic.

[Joe Smith @ Aug 23rd 2006 8:34AM]

What's up with y'all? America is teh best, and I love being American! Racist fools...

[everette powell @ Aug 23rd 2006 8:47AM]

I think she is well in her right to sue. My little sister used to baby sit for money and sometimes the kids were the worst kids you can imagine, and she never used to get paid all that much either, so I can just image what she had to go through to acquire that much money to afford that. Also it took her time to copy her cd’s or maybe she used her own money to purchase songs off Itunes, either way her friend was careless and she need to compensate her for her purchase.

[Codemaster @ Aug 23rd 2006 8:50AM]

My iPod was stolen right out of my dorm room, but I didn't go around suing everyone in sight.

[skaht @ Aug 23rd 2006 8:53AM]

Ktino
I am an American who has lived in Europe for the
past two years.90% of the people I have met have had nothing but kind words to say about Americans (other than we are all fat). What they have to say about our government is quite a bit different though(and I don't dissagree with them). Please don't confuse the two. Sorry we are not all perfect.

[Lara @ Aug 23rd 2006 9:00AM]

hahaha

love it!!!

what will they sue people over next eh?!

talk about waste of money and time!

[Jimmay @ Aug 23rd 2006 9:11AM]

But why $475? Why not just $300? She's charging $175 extra just for not having an ipod for a few days, what a brat.

[brian @ Aug 23rd 2006 9:11AM]

By the way, it was an ipod Nano

[Amplifier @ Aug 23rd 2006 9:15AM]

If I was the judge:

"You stupid girl. What were you doing lending an ipod to somebody. Stop wasting the time of the court, srsly." Then give her a print out of: http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/1141/1152827182058oy2.jpg

[RonHands @ Aug 23rd 2006 9:16AM]

I live in Wheaton but really don't care about two 14 year olds arguing over an ipod but if you guys do come to Wheaton and need a place to stay let me know.

[smudley @ Aug 23rd 2006 9:23AM]

pissed off about the age of an ipod owner or the legal venue with which the owner pursues justice?
pissed off at america?!?
sounds like simple class envy to me... which is how important to who? stop being so jealous of the U.S.!
if you want the way of life that we have then TAKE IT LIKE WE DID or continue to piss and moan globally while we decide who to give some of our EXTRA money to...
STOP BITCHING AND DO SOMETHING!

[Jjeff @ Aug 23rd 2006 9:24AM]

The comments from the (obviously) anti-americans are pretty staggering. If someone lost something of value, regardless of wether it is the little white love-it-or-hate-it MP3 player, would you just accept the loss?

Just because it happened in the US, and everyone hates the US; and just because it was an iPod, and everyone hates the iPod - doesn't overshadow the fact that a relatively (2 weeks old) new item of value (US$475) was loaned to someone in good faith and stolen before it was given back to the rightful owner.

I would have to assume that the owner of the iPod told her parents, or from what the article suggests, both sides' parents were probably called from the school. So since we assume the parents know, it isn't too hard to assume that the parents of the girl with the iPod asked the other parents to reimburse their daughter the purchase amount of the iPod and they refused.

What else can they do? Beat them up? Slash tires? Other vigilante justice?

THIS IS WHAT SMALL CLAIMS COURT IS FOR!

If someone borrowed something of value from me and managed to lose it or have it wind up stolen, you can bet your ass that if I couldn't get them to replace the item in the exact condition or give me its equivalent value in cash I would drag them into small claims court and let a judge hear about it. $475 is a LOT of money for a 16 year old to save up and assuming (the article doesn't say otherwise) that she paid for it without any help from her parents, she has every right to sue for compensation.

[oops @ Aug 23rd 2006 9:28AM]

Engadget: you missed the BEST part of this suit.

(and this partly answers the "Why $475 for an iPod question")

Part of the damages saught include a $60 case (who buys a $60 case, when they're 14 anyhow?... but the creme de la creme... she's suing for $50 in iTunes store songs that were on the ipod. LOL.

Geez, I didn't know Apple invented an iPod that went straight to iTunes bypassing one's computer. Dumbasses, resync and save the world some grief. Fucking rich brats.

[stev @ Aug 23rd 2006 9:29AM]

to me i think its the parents fault
they r the ones that let her sue
y not just go to the other girls parents and ask them to make her pay it off and buy their daughter a new ipod

[jr @ Aug 23rd 2006 9:46AM]

I second Jjeff's comments - this is small claims court stuff, no legal fees aside from the filing fee - usually $35.

There is a principle here - you borrow something, you're responsible for it until you return it to the owner. It isn't returned until she actually has receipt of it, so its her friends responsibility.

I'm amazed at how many people are pissed at the girl who filed the suit! The blame goes on the other girl (and her parents) for not owning up to the responsibility and paying for it.

[sean @ Aug 23rd 2006 9:49AM]

hahah this is awesome. I live in Wheaton. This is hilarious. Stupid teenie boppers. Learn some responsibility, and don't lend something that is $500 to a friend. At least make sure you have $500 worth of something of hers before you lend an ipod.

Hey, at least she bought it with her own money from babysitting. Wheaton (DuPage County) = bunch of rich kids where mommy & daddy buy them cars, clothes, electronics, and anything else they want.

[Chris @ Aug 23rd 2006 9:54AM]

"everyone around the world hates your guts"

Ktino - possibly, but in the same way that people in coach resent people in First Class. :-)