Do I Really Deserve What Happened?

I've been getting a lot of feedback on last night's story about Terrell's Siding.  Most of it's from people who saw what I was trying to do - get Terrell's side on of the story and to hold him accountable.  Most of it's like this email:

"I just want to thank Amanda for all that she has done.... My grandma was robbed along with many other Oklahomans by Terrell Siding..."

But a few people have called saying I deserved what happened.  They say if I would have come onto their property, they would have shot me.  And that's what I'm responding to tonight.

The people who have this viewpoint say I deserved it because I was trespassing.  Here's the problem with that - I wasn't trespassing.  Think of like this - you're lost and needing directions.  So you see someone working in their garage and you walk up to them.  Would you think, oh, I better not go up to him because that would be considered trespassing?  No - if there's no sign and you aren't asked to leave then how can you be breaking any law?  From a legal standpoint, (and yes, we had an attorney look at our tape), the law says once you're asked to leave and you don't - then it's trespassing. 

When I walked onto Terrell's property, I said hello - he looked right at me.  There was another worker in the garage so I didn't think twice when I approached him.  I told him what we were there for.  He didn't say a word.  I was only asked to leave AFTER he pushed the garage door button.  There was no way to leave except for a side door.  And then even that was hindered by him grabbing the microphone.

One posting questions what I said to Terrell once the garage door is closed.  At first it looked like Terrell was going to explain the situation.  He said that he completed the contract.  In response I said "We're not here to talk about the contract.. we're here..."  I was about to say "we're here to talk to you about the warranty.  Why does the homeowner say your're not going to go and fix her siding?"  But I never had a chance to ask.  That's when he grabbed the mic. 

I read one posting that said I "created the news".  Believe me, I wasn't trying to make that happen.  Quite frankly, it was a scary situation I never wanted to be in it.  Nor do I ever want to go through anything like it again.  But I'm not going to let it stop me from helping consumers in the future.