http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25237964/
BERLIN - A German court has ruled against a woman who
claimed a phobia of official letters in her appeal against
authorities' decision to cut off child support benefits.
The finance court in western Rhineland-Palatinate state
said Wednesday that the woman was sent a letter in May 2007 asking
that she supply evidence to support continued payments for her
daughter.
After she failed to respond, she was notified in July
2007 that the money was being cut off and given a month to appeal.
Only in September did she reply and supply the requested documents
— telling authorities, who threw out her appeal because it was too
late, that she had a phobia of official correspondence.
The woman, who was not identified by the court, said
that "she had already suffered many financial disadvantages" as a
result of leaving mail lie around or throwing it out, a court
statement said.
It added that she sought to justify her actions by
saying that "she was and still is petrified of the contents of
official letters." She said she had long considered seeking
psychological treatment, but had been too ashamed to go through
with it.
The court, which said it delivered its ruling in late
April, rejected the woman's case. It said that, since she said she
had long suffered the problem, she had had plenty of time to seek
help from her daughter or others.
