In County of Theatrics, Parody Set the Stage For a Battle in Court

But both sides agreed on one thing: Their presentations before the board had grown wackier over the years as they desperately tried to win over the public and the supervisors.

Pro-development activists sponsored tractor parades and held a mock funeral for property rights in the boardroom, complete with coffin and grieving widow. Slow-growth supporters held an acoustic guitar singalong inside the chambers to the tune of Tammy Wynette's "Stand by Your Man" (theirs went "Stand by Our Plan").

In legal briefs and throughout a two-day jury trial late in March, Grigsby's appearance before the board was scrutinized thoroughly.

The defense argued that Grigsby's bottle -- with "XXXX" written on its white label -- made clear to spectators the speech was satire. A supervisor had identified Grigsby by name before, during and after the skit, leaving no question, Grigsby's attorney said, about the true identity of the speaker at the podium.

But Bob Kelly's attorneys called to the witness stand six women who had been sitting in the audience that day. They testified that they either were confused about the identity of the man at the podium or believed at the time he was indeed Mr. Kelly.

Grigsby apologized from the stand, saying he "wouldn't want to humiliate someone or push them beyond the norm."

The seven-person jury needed only a few hours to reach its verdict: Its members ruled against Grigsby and awarded Bob Kelly $7,500 in damages.

Bob Kelly said it was never about the money. "We've now made our point and set case law, so if this ever gets done again, there's law that protects the next person who gets bashed about like this," he said.

Grigsby's attorney, state Sen. Ken Cuccinelli (R-Fairfax), said no appeal is planned.

Grigsby said the verdict will not stop him from speaking his mind at board meetings. "I don't intimidate easily," he wrote.