Hold Your Wee for a Wii

http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/01/ten_fired_from_.html

Apparently the show's been canceled and everyone involved in it was fired...

 

Ironically, there have been recent cases of hyponatremia deaths during marathons - drinking too much. (see http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5630821 ) Our good doctors would mention most of us probably have too much sodium and don't drink a healthy eight glasses (one liter) daily. Hyponatremia is an extreme of taking in so much water the sodium levels are too low.

Anyone that has run at least a half marathon knows hydration is tricky - how do you drink just enough without having nature calling? As many residents along the paths of the Chicago and Boston Marathons can testify, runners are unique in the sports world for being overeager to give urine tests.

 

It's official...
http://news.com.com/Family+sues+radio+stat...ml?tag=nefd.top

The family is suing, as predicted.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Jan 16 2007, 04:55 PM) [snapback]376462[/snapback]</div>

I believe there is an implied responsibility that the radio station had/has when it sponsors a contest to protect those involved in it. This would especially be true with regards to creating a contest in which the participants could lose thier lives - a well known complication of water intoxication. This is more so given the fact a college student near the radio station lost their life under similar circumstances recently - something that apparently was made well known in their local media. Even without that - there is a responsbility the contests sponsor has to ensure the safety of the people partaking in it. I believe they even signed a consent form - if that is true it is another nail in their "coffin" (bad pun) - they will not let this valid suit get anywhere near a court.

The obvious neglect exhibited by the radio hosts to the victim during the contest makes this a slam dunk lawsuit and they will be lucky to avoid jail time for negligent manslaughter.

Not only should they be sued, they should be made an example of and the book should be thrown at them as hard as possible.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PLM @ Jan 16 2007, 06:56 PM) [snapback]376520[/snapback]</div>

Using this rationale, cigarette companies should not be held liable for their products because...no one forced cigaret smokers to smoke...right?

Gun manufacturers should hold no responsiblity for accidental deaths...hey, no one forced that child to pull the trigger, right...so the fault lies only with the end user?

Wrong, wrong, and wrong.

 

1) There is no bad publicity.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jmann @ Jan 20 2007, 10:14 PM) [snapback]378520[/snapback]</div>

Yeah, tell that to the 10 station employees that were fired due to this publicity...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Jan 22 2007, 11:53 AM) [snapback]378962[/snapback]</div>

Yeah, and the lawsuit isn't stopping there. They're gonna after the station for major dough (as well they should IMO):

>>And this may not get resolved with a radio network issuing an apology and offering cash to make everything go away.
"There isn't going to be a settlement," says Roger Dreyer, the Sacramento attorney who is handling a wrongful death lawsuit for Strange's husband and three children. "There's going to be a venting in a public forum. That's what we want, and that's what the family wants." <<
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...MNG2ONMB4E1.DTL


>>The wrongful death claim will not just go after the DJ’s whose firings Dreyer calls a weak attempt by management of KDND and Entercom to distance themselves from what happened.
"It's almost like they're a lizard cutting off their tail, hoping everyone will concentrate on the tail,†described Dryer.
In this case the whole lizard may be in play, "If their involvement played a role in the death of Jennifer Strange we will find them, and we will get them, and they will pay,†Dryer said.<<
http://cbs13.com/topstories/local_story_019000342.html

 

The lawsuit is in, and if the things alleged in it are true, it seems like a slam dunk, namely:
1. Contestants did not sign waivers
2. Contestants were told not to vomit or they would lose
3. Contestants were mocked when they complained of feeling ill (i.e., the woman who died described as looking pregnant because her belly was so distended)
4. DJ's had knowledge of danger - referred to prior water deaths, kept making jokes about dying/should have researched this
5. DJ's made fun of nurse calling in to warn them
6. DJ's joke about getting stretchers ready for any contestants who died
7. No medical personnel at the contest at all.
And more.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years...125073wii1.html

 

Listening to the recordings online before, 2-5 are definitely on tap... i don't doubt 6, and i'm pretty sure 7 is legit... but on one of the tapes they said something to the effect of "it's cool, they signed a waiver", so i'm not sure about 1...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Feb 2 2007, 04:18 PM) [snapback]384601[/snapback]</div>

Yeah, I remembered that too, but it is in fact one of the first items mentioned in the lawsuit papers, so I imagine the "waivers" only existed in the joke the DJ made and not in fact on paper.

 

Definitely a Darwin Awards candidate.