Juror's H1N1 Claim Causes Mistrial
Man Held In Contempt Of Court, Must Observe Trials
DOYLESTOWN, Pa. - A Bucks County juror has been held in contempt of court for telling the judge he had swine flu.
Anthony DiCicco said he had swine flu symptoms a week before having jury duty. But he was feeling better the day of, so he went.
By noon he felt sick, so he told a court clerk he had the H1N1 virus and had to go to the doctor.
The judge didn't want to take any chances, so he declared a mistrial.
"There was a hysteria, and I think to some degree some people who are misinformed are still under that hysteria," said Brian Lafferty, DiCicco's attorney. "This fear had developed, everybody was under this impression. Mr. DiCicco and his family -- specifically his mother who was caring for him in the weeks leading up to this incident -- she was under the same hysteria."
For his penalty, DiCicco must spend three days in court observing jury trials.