Trial Halted by Clerical Error
by Rod Hughes
They were all ready in the courtroom, the alleged victim of a nurse’s error in the administration of chemotherapy, the prosecutor, the defnse counsel, the judge, representatives of the Social Security (Caja) that administers public hospitals.. The summons had been served. Everyone was present— but the defendant.
Judge Carlos Chaves then made a slightly embarrassed declaration to the waiting group: “I have to be completely sincere with you. There’s been an error in the summons.”
It was just a teensy bureaucratic misstep: The defendant had been notified to appear in court Dec. 30, 1899.
But, never fear. Costa rican justice will be served. sometime this century…