We need to have a serious conversation about the definition of a “prank.” A prank is putting a whoopee cushion on a chair or hiding a rubber snake in the garden. A prank is not inflicting bodily harm that requires immediate medical intervention and a solvent bath. One man on Reddit recently found out that his brother-in-law has the sense of humor of a sociopathic toddler, and the resulting legal battle has torn the family apart. It all started, as most disasters do, with a nap in a hammock.
The OP (Original Poster) was enjoying a post-BBQ snooze in the backyard. He admits he had a few beers, but he was harmlessly sleeping off the buzz. Enter the brother-in-law (BIL), who was reportedly sober—which makes this infinitely worse—and decided the funniest thing he could do was fill the OP’s belly button with super glue. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment joke; you have to go find super glue. It was a premeditated act of stupidity.
The OP woke up and naturally touched the area, effectively gluing his finger to his own stomach. When they tried to peel it off, the skin started tearing. This wasn’t a situation where you could just “walk it off.” The OP has scar tissue in his navel from a previous gallbladder surgery, making the area incredibly sensitive and prone to injury. Because they couldn’t get the industrial adhesive off without ripping his skin apart, the OP had to go to the emergency room.
Here is where the “prank” stops being a funny anecdote and becomes a financial crisis. Because the American healthcare system is a nightmarescape, the ER visit to dissolve the glue cost a staggering $2,253. Naturally, the OP asked the perpetrator to pay. If you break it, you buy it. If you glue a man’s finger to his stomach, you pay for the removal. But the BIL refused.
The OP tried to handle it privately, but the BIL wouldn’t budge. So, the OP did what any rational person staring at a $2,000 bill would do: he took him to small claims court. And he won. The judge clearly agreed that assaulting a sleeping relative with bonding agents isn’t a joke. However, winning in court is one thing; getting paid is another. The BIL still hasn’t paid up, and now the family is at war.
You would think the family would look at the court ruling and say, “Yeah, that’s fair.” Nope. The wife and her family are furious at the OP. Why? Because the poor, innocent BIL is going through a divorce and is “between jobs.” They are painting the OP as the villain for kicking a man while he is down. But let’s be real: being unemployed doesn’t give you immunity from the consequences of your actions. If you can’t afford the hospital bill, maybe don’t vandalize your relatives’ bodies?
The excuses here are laughable. The BIL is blaming his ADHD for the impulse to glue a human being. As someone with ADHD, I find that personally offensive. Neurodivergence is not a “Get Out of Jail Free” card for causing thousands of dollars in damages. The family is acting like the OP is the aggressor, even though his mother-in-law—who is on a fixed income—had to offer to pay the bill to smooth things over. To his credit, the OP refused to take her money.
The most heartbreaking part is the OP’s wife. She is barely on his side because “blood is thicker than water.” She actually drove him to the ER but is now mad that he held her brother accountable for the bill. It is classic enabling behavior. She expects her husband to eat a $2,000 loss just to keep the peace with a brother who refuses to grow up.
So, is the OP the ahole? Absolutely not. The BIL played a stupid game and won a stupid (court-ordered) prize. If he doesn’t want to get sued, he should stop gluing people. It is a pretty low bar for behavior, yet he somehow tripped right over it.
What would you do if a relative glued you shut and stuck you with the bill? Would you let it slide for the sake of family harmony, or would you see them in court? Let us know in the comments if you think the OP was right to sue!
The judgement will show up on his credit report & will follow him everywhere especially since he hasn’t paid it.