Bar associations team up for 'Santa' program

This post was written by reporter Rebecca Berfanger.

The Indiana State Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section partnered with the James C. Kimbrough Bar Association to sponsor their first program together, “Santa’s Been Sued.” The educational program, which includes gifts for 15 underprivileged children in northwestern Indiana, will take place starting at 4:30 p.m. local time today in Lake Superior Court.

The children were chosen based on their affiliation with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana in Gary.

The court portion of the program is based on the premise that Christmas could be canceled after Ebenezer Scrooge, a fellow resident of the North Pole and represented by Charles Dickens, sued Santa Claus for property damage caused by Santa and his reindeer on Dec. 24, 2009.

Ebenezer Scrooge v. Santa Claus, No. 56Z09-TC-1670, which was “filed” in North Pole Superior Court in Iceberg, Alaska, was written by event organizers. It was also posted on the ISBA’s website.

Scrooge also claimed in his suit that he suffered from emotional distress and mental anguish as a result of Santa’s visit last year.

In the court order, dated Nov. 3, Judge Rudolph Reindeer found that Santa owed Scrooge $500. The attorneys who organized the event sought the $500 to help Santa so he could still deliver the toys to children around the world on Christmas Eve.

The Kimbrough Bar Association had received at least $700 to pay for toys for the kids, and expected at least a few more checks to come in. Anything received after the event will likely be donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Gary, said Michael Tolbert, one of the event organizers and past president of the Kimbrough Bar Association, who said the event was to raise money for charity and not for either of the participating bar associations.

Tolbert also said the event was organized to serve as a positive experience for kids who usually would only be in court when something bad has happened. The visitors will also get a tour of the courthouse, see the judge’s chambers, and Lake Superior Judge William E. Davis will make an appearance in the role of Santa for the event.