Farmer Schmidt was driving on the PA Turnpike in Lancaster County when his farm truck got sideswiped by a semi-truck. He decided to sue the trucking company.
The trucking company hired a Philadelphia lawyer who came to court in a $1000.00 suit and $400.00 shoes. After Farmer Schmidt gave his testimony, the Philadelphia lawyer proceeded to cross-examine Farmer Schmidt.
The Philadelphia lawyer began, "Mr. Schmidt, you are claiming damages for personal injury from the accident you allege my client inflicted on you. Isn't is true that when the attending State Trooper inquired about your condition, you replied, 'I'm fine'?"
Farmer Schmidt started to reply, "Well, I have to explain what happened . . . " when he was interrupted by the Philadephia lawyer, who said, "Mr. Schmidt, you are not being responsive to my question. I'm asking you again. When the attending State Trooper asked you about your condition after the alleged accident, did you or did you not reply 'I'm fine'?"
Again, Farmer Schmidt began to relate what happened stating, "Well, I have to explain about that . . . .", and the lawyer for the trucking company blew a gasket.
The Philadelphia lawyer thundered, "Your Honor, the plaintiff is being totally unresponsive to my question. He is trying to perpetrate a fraud on my client and this Court. I am prepared to bring in the attending State Trooper from the alleged accident, and he will testify that when he inquired as to the plaintiff's condition, the plaintiff replied, 'I'm fine.'"
By this time the judge is curious as to what went on and said to Farmer Schmidt, "Mr. Schmidt, please tell the Court what happened when the State Trooper arrived."
Farmer Schmidt took a breath and said, "Well, Judge, I was driving in my pickup truck on the Turnpike and pulling a trailer that was carrying my best mule, Maude. When that big semi-truck sideswiped my truck, the trailer broke off and went off the road down the bank on one side, and my truck went off the road and down the bank on the other side. I was getting out of my truck and I could hear Maude just bawling and carrying on something fierce. Then I heard the siren on the police car and the police car stopping. The next thing I heard was a shot, and Maude stopped bawling. Then the policeman came over to me and he had his gun in his hand and said to me, 'Sir, your mule was in pretty bad shape so I had to shoot it. How are you feeling'?"