Train Station Banana Peel Slip Was a Sham
- 11 years ago
Maurice Owens sued the Washington D.C. Metro agency after slipping on a banana peel in one of its elevators, but now faces felony fraud charges.
Maurice Owens sued the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority in D.C for 15 thousand dollars after slipping on a banana peel in one of its elevators.
Surveillance footage confirmed that the man fell, but also revealed that he orchestrated the whole incident, banana peel and all.
Setting up the sham took Owens a total of about 90 seconds.
The tape shows him entering the elevator – with something in hand, pacing around for a bit, and looking at the camera three times. While in the elevator, an item later identified as the banana peel, can be seen on the floor.
As he stepped out, he fell to floor, half of his body ending up outside of the elevator car.
After that, he reported the incident to Metro workers and questioned why the custodian didn’t sufficiently clean the area prior to the alleged accident.
Owens was then transported to the hospital.
The 15 thousand dollar claim was filed two weeks later. In light of the video evidence of the actual events, it has been thrown out.
Instead of getting a payout, Owns found himself in court facing felony fraud charges.
The judge has ordered that a mental health evaluation be completed before the case proceeds.
Maurice Owens sued the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority in D.C for 15 thousand dollars after slipping on a banana peel in one of its elevators.
Surveillance footage confirmed that the man fell, but also revealed that he orchestrated the whole incident, banana peel and all.
Setting up the sham took Owens a total of about 90 seconds.
The tape shows him entering the elevator – with something in hand, pacing around for a bit, and looking at the camera three times. While in the elevator, an item later identified as the banana peel, can be seen on the floor.
As he stepped out, he fell to floor, half of his body ending up outside of the elevator car.
After that, he reported the incident to Metro workers and questioned why the custodian didn’t sufficiently clean the area prior to the alleged accident.
Owens was then transported to the hospital.
The 15 thousand dollar claim was filed two weeks later. In light of the video evidence of the actual events, it has been thrown out.
Instead of getting a payout, Owns found himself in court facing felony fraud charges.
The judge has ordered that a mental health evaluation be completed before the case proceeds.