"I am not the Cookie Monster," said Tory Caruth, laughing.
But cookies are why he spent time in the Will County Jail after the Girl Scouts sued him in small claims court.
(AP)
Girl Scouts of Trailways claimed Caruth never paid for 118 boxes of cookies his daughter ordered five years ago.
The 40-year-old Joliet trucker is listed on permission forms as his
daughter's guardian responsible for payments. The 118 boxes were valued
at $354 when the order was placed in January 2002. Caruth claims that
money was turned in to the organization.
While his name is on the documents, Caruth said he never
signed the forms, which state "failure to turn over or any misuse of
these funds on my part will result in legal action taken against me by
Girl Scouts."
After he missed small claims court appearances, a warrant with a
$500 bond was issued for Caruth in December. "I did not know there was
a warrant out for me," Caruth said.
On Dec. 13, he was arrested and booked into the county jail; he made bail the next day.
Russelle Holsinger, a Morris attorney who represented the Girl
Scouts when the group took Caruth to court, said the arrest warrant
came only after Caruth ignored repeated requests to contact the
organization.
On a receipt submitted to the court, Caruth's daughter ordered
two cases of Caramel DeLites, two cases of Thin Mints, one case of
Peanut Butter Patties and one case of Peanut Butter Sandwiches -- plus
boxes of Shortbreads, Lemon Pastry Cremes, Animal Treasures and
Friendship Circles.
Holsinger said nonpayment for Girl Scout cookies is a fairly
common occurrence. "You wouldn't believe how many cases we have like
this," she said.
The Girl Scouts garnisheed Caruth's wages starting last month.
After court costs, he will pay $1,109.76. Caruth maintains his
innocence and said he'd like the Girl Scouts to apologize and go after
whoever did sign the form.
Sun-Times News Group
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