The U.S. Attorney’s office is making a federal case out of spilled soda.

The Bush administration’s top attorney in Idaho is bringing charges against a North Idaho woman for refusing to pay for a Diet Coke and then pouring it out on a counter at a cafeteria in the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Boise.

Natalie Walters, now facing two counts that each carry a maximum sentence of six months in federal prison, thinks the case is a waste of taxpayer money and plans to fight the charges.

U.S. Attorney Tom Moss’s office wouldn’t comment on the case until after Walters’ arraignment, set for Oct. 8.

Read the rest of the story for the defendant’s side of the story. Basically, they tried to charge her $3.80 for a soda, so she refused and dumped it out. They then found out who she was by looking up her father’s records from the hospital (possible HIPAA violation), and now they’re going after her for…I can’t even imagine. I assume theft and some other charge? This is, as far as I’m concerned, barratry. Here’s hoping the case gets thrown out immediately.