man wins court battle to prove he's alive

[Amby 490]

A Romanian man has won a year-long fight to persuade the courts that he isn't dead.

Gheroghe Stirbu, from Timisoara, tried to renew his identity card but was told by officials that he had been registered as dead.

Bungling civil servants had mixed him up with another man but although Stirbu pointed out what they had done they refused to acknowledge their mistake until Stirbu won a 12 month legal claim to be declared alive.

Judges renewed his status as alive - and then charged him £500 in court costs.

Mr Stirbu said: "When the judge ruled in my favour I was absolutely delighted - and then seconds later was absolutely shocked when I found out I would have to pay so much in legal bills.

"I will of course appeal the imposition of the costs but I am already beginning to wonder whether or not I would have been better off staying dead."

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_3117603.html?menu=

[Peikko 1,575]

A Romanian man has won a year-long fight to persuade the courts that he isn't dead.

Gheroghe Stirbu, from Timisoara, tried to renew his identity card but was told by officials that he had been registered as dead.

Bungling civil servants had mixed him up with another man but although Stirbu pointed out what they had done they refused to acknowledge their mistake until Stirbu won a 12 month legal claim to be declared alive.

Judges renewed his status as alive - and then charged him £500 in court costs.

Mr Stirbu said: "When the judge ruled in my favour I was absolutely delighted - and then seconds later was absolutely shocked when I found out I would have to pay so much in legal bills.

"I will of course appeal the imposition of the costs but I am already beginning to wonder whether or not I would have been better off staying dead."

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_3117603.html?menu=

The wonders of bureaucracy! I would imagine that had he been independently wealthy, being 'dead' would have been an advantage, but only if his assets were liquid. Otherwise, not so much.

[Pooky 3,847]

Does that mean he is officially undead?

Will he get nicknamed Dracula?

Edited December 12, 2008 by Pooky

[Niels Bohr 72]

Does that mean he is officially undead?

Will he get nicknamed Dracula?

Well, Dracula came from Alucard. Not really dead, except for his families who were impaled.

[Pooky 3,847]

Does that mean he is officially undead?

Will he get nicknamed Dracula?

Well, Dracula came from Alucard. Not really dead, except for his families who were impaled.

Pah! Never let actual history get in the way of the first (and best) vampire novel.