ahhh the sweet word "the defendant pleaded"

gwenith, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2003

Nice of them to let you know before you went there. I bet the hospital will not be pleased either and not at you - at them!!!

OH! Well look on the bright side you got a day out:)

ikimiwi · Sep 19, 2003

I just spent 9 hours in the court house for an assault with a deadly weapon, found guilty, he was "banned " from our ed, an I just got a check today for $6.40. of course he has been back to Ed 3 times in the past few weeks, they are kind enough not to put him im my section though!

kids · Sep 19, 2003

The Pediatrician I used to work with is our areas Peds sexual abuse/asault expert (is on-call 24/7 at the local ER for Peds sexual abuse/assault).

His schedule is such that he is scheduled to be in court 1 day/week. 3 out of 4 weeks the cases were plead out before trial. Thank heavens we *almost* always were notified.

LSURN · Sep 19, 2003

Funny you should mention that, I was subpoened and went to court today on a DWI case. Sat in the courtroom an hour, defendant never showed. A warrant was issued for her arrest and as I was walking out, she was walking in and stopped by a deputy! Funny thing was, her BA was 0.000!! She just refused the blood draw request by the officer.

catchup82 · Sep 20, 2003

i got called for psych case......the night before going to court i went to review the chart.......found out the chart was still on the unit........went to the unit......patient was discharged and the case for holding him ceased...i was never given notice......just glad i found out.......it was my day off!

ernurse728, LPN · Sep 29, 2003

I am due in court in 48 hrs for a case that I don't remember anything about and they have yet to prep any of us who are their "witnesses". The legal system cracks me up!

galenight, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2003

Ernurse,

The 2 or 3 times I've been called, only once was I prepped and that was just before the case started. The defendant did plea guilty before I was called. In each case, however, I went to medical records and reviewed the chart. I may not have remembered everything, but at least it could help jog my memory. Try that before going in blind.

allnurses Guide · Oct 7, 2003

They have left my subpeonas at my work place, never actually notifying me! My DM called at 5 PM to tell me to be in court on my day off the next morning at 8 AM. Had no idea what the case was, I met the police officer involved who told me what was going on (after we were in court), sat outside the court for four hours when the clerk looked at me and said "OH! I forgot to come tell you, he pleaded guilty. Sooo sorry"

The next time I found a letter with a subpeona as I came in for a night shift saying to be in court the next morning....yeah right. Hospital lawyer called them then and there to say he wasn't sending me.

Aren't subpeonas supposed to be put into your hands directly?

Katnip, RN · Oct 7, 2003

I was going to mention that. I thought they had to be delivered directly to the person. By hand.

galenight, BSN, RN · Oct 9, 2003

Here in Michigan the subpoenas don't have to be handed to you. They mail them to you with directions for returning a postage paid postcard stating that you did receive it. If you don't reply, apparently they then send a UNIFORMED officer to your work or home, or so the letter threatened. It doesn't say what time frame you have, so who knows. The subpeonas I have received have come about 6 weeks or more before the court date.

In any case, it's a pain. Plain and simple.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Oct 9, 2003

Subpoenas are a pain

1 I hate going

2 we get treated terible by defense attorneys and even the DA when we cant remember the case.

3 I actually got arrested and put in jail over night for failure to appear. I forgot.

4 I get so damn may I have to keep a running schedule of them.

5 Im on a first name basis with the DAs and investigators.

6 all told it really sucks