This picture of two people supposedly dividing up a Beanie Baby collection started making the rounds on Twitter, but without links to any additional context.
Apparently the photo is legit. According to a 1999 Las Vegas Sun report on the couple, this is a case of a judge who had enough of the couple’s pettiness in their divorce proceedings.
“I don’t agree with the judge’s decision to do this. It’s ridiculous and embarrassing,” said Frances Mountain, moments before squatting on the courtroom floor alongside her ex-husband to choose first from a pile of dozens of stuffed toys.
The courtroom was silent for about three minutes while the two took turns picking babies.
Frances and Harold Mountain divorced four months ago. According to the divorce decree, the parties were supposed to divide up their Beanie Baby collection, estimated to be worth between $2,500 and $5,000.
But the man and woman failed to split up their toys by themselves. The collection was still in Frances’ possession Thursday when Hardcastle heard Harold’s motion to get his share of the litter.
“I’d just had enough,” said Hardcastle, who has been a Family Court judge for seven years. “We spend a lot of time dealing with some simply unreasonable issues. They are time-consuming, expensive issues. A lot of our calendar is made up of just this kind of nonsense.
“So I told them to bring the Beanie Babies in, spread them out on the floor, and I’ll have them pick one each until they’re all gone.” Hardcastle also invited reporters.
“If you’re not embarrassed to stand in front of a District Court Judge and ask to have your Beanie Babies divided, why should you be embarrassed for the press to be there?” Hardcastle reasoned. “Maybe they don’t want their neighbors to know. But I still think there’s something to be said for people being held accountable for their actions, and (Harold) filed this motion that takes up court time.”
No word on how they handled their collection of rare pogs.