| Archives Page # 15 |
| Worst Lawsuits of 2003 Presented as the 2003 Stella Awards 2-20-04 It's once again time to review the winners of the annual Stella Awards. What a sad world we live in. When we let these things happen. The Stella's are named after 81 year old Stella Liebeck who spilled coffee on herself and successfully sued McDonald's. That case inspired the Stella Awards for the most frivolous successful Lawsuits in the United States. Unfortunately the most recent lawsuit implicating McDonald's, the teens who allege that eating at McDonald's has made them fat, was filed after the 2002 award voting was closed. This suit will top the 2003 awards list without question. THIS YEAR'S AWARDS GO TO: 6th place (Tied). Kathleen Robertson of Austin, Texas was awarded $780,000 by a jury of her peers after breaking her ankle tripping over a toddler who was running inside a furniture store. The owners of the store were understandably surprised at the verdict, considering the misbehaving toddler was Ms. Robertson's son. 5th place (Tied). 19 year old Carl Truman of Los Angeles won $74,000 and medical expenses when his neighbor ran over his hand with a Honda Accord. Mr. Truman apparently did not notice there was someone at the wheel of the car when he was trying to steal the hubcaps. 4th place (Tied). Terrence Dickson of Bristol, Pennsylvania was leaving a house he had just finished robbing by way of the garage. He was not able to get the garage door to go up since the automatic door opener was malfunctioning. He could not reenter the house because the door connecting the house and garage locked when he pulled it shut. The family was on vacation and Mr. Dickson found himself locked in the garage for 8 days. He subsisted on a case of Pepsi he found and a large bag of dry dog food. He sued the homeowner's insurance claiming the situation caused him undue mental anguish. The Jury agreed to the tune of $500,000. 3rd place. Jerry Williams of Little Rock, Arkansas was awarded $14,500 and medical expenses after being bitten on the buttocks by his next door neighbor's Beagle dog. The Beagle was on a chain in its owner's fenced yard. The award was less than sought because the jury felt the dog might have been a little provoked at the time as Mr. Williams, who had climbed over the fence into the yard, was shooting it repeatedly with a pellet gun. 2nd place. A Philadelphia restaurant was ordered to pay Amber Carson of Lancaster, Pennsylvania $113,500 after she slipped on a soft drink and broke her coccyx (tailbone). The beverage was on the floor because Ms. Carson had thrown it at her boyfriend 30 seconds earlier, during an argument. 1st place Runner up. Kara Walton of Claymont, Delaware sued the owner of a Night Club in a neighboring city when she fell from the bathroom window to the floor and knocked out two of her front teeth. This occurred whilst Ms. Walton was trying to sneak out of the window in the Ladies Room to avoid paying the $3.50 cover charge. She was awarded $12,000 and dental expenses. 1st Place. This year's runaway winner was Mr. Merv Grazinski of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Mr. Grazinski purchased a brand new Winnebago Motor Home. On his trip home from an OU football game, having driven onto the Freeway, he set the cruise control at 70 mph and calmly left the drivers seat to go into the back and make himself a cup of coffee. Not surprisingly the RV left the Freeway, crashed and overturned. Mr. Grazinski sued Winnebago for not advising him in the owner's manual that he could not actually do this. The jury awarded him $1,750,000 plus a new Winnebago Motor Home. The company actually changed their manuals on the basis of this suit just in case there were any other complete morons buying their recreation vehicles! Breathitt County Younger Women’s Club 2-18-04 The Breathitt County Younger Women’s club held it’s month meeting on Tuesday, February 17, 2004. They had it in the Jefferson Hotel, in which Director, Laura Thomas, gave them all a tour of the renovations. Thomas did a wonderful job and the club thanks her very much. After the tour the club met and discussed their upcoming events. Their annual Easter Egg hunt will be on April 10th at 1:00p.m. The next meeting will be on March 16th at 6:00 p.m. The place will be announced at a later date. Do liberals understand disability rights? 2-4-04 A progressive bookstore owner provides a ramp to a locked entrance - and offers a doorbell. He is offended when activists protest. Liberals involved in election reform organize to stop new accessible computerized voting machines. During the debate over Terri Schiavo last fall, disability activists said that neither right-to-life and right-to-die advocates understood the issue. What's going on? Interviews with many activists and scholars turn up provocative insights. Read "Liberals and disability rights: why don't they 'get it'?" - online at Ragged Edge at http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/focus/liberals0104.html Also at Ragged Edge. "The Democratic Campaign and Disability Rights." http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/drn/democandidates011904.html Read all our articles at http://www.raggededgemagazine.com Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Workshops FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 19, 2004) - A series of workshops are being held around the state in March and April to help grandparents and families learn about issues related to raising children. The "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren" conferences provide information about guardianship, visitation, custody, and public benefit programs. The workshops are sponsored by the state Office of Aging Services' Kentucky KinCare Project, which assists grandparent caregivers and participating area development districts. The March sessions are: March 9 - "Second Time Around" Grandparents Conference - Greenbo Lake State Resort Park, West KY HWY 1711, Greenup, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Contact: Carol Chapman, FIVCO Area Agency on Aging, PO Box 636, 3000 Louisa Street, Catlettsburg, 1-800-499-5191 March 18 - Bluegrass Region Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference, Fayette County Extension Center, 1140 Red Mile Place, Lexington, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Contact: Robynn Pease, Office of Aging, Lexington-Fayette County Urban Government, Third Floor, Government Center, Lexington, (859) 258-3806. March 20 - Western Louisville Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference, Kennedy Montessori School 3800 Gibson Lane, Louisville, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Contact: Bobbe Powell, Kennedy Montessori School, (502) 485-8280. The April Session is: April 7 - Northern Kentucky Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference, Lakeside Christian Church, 195 Buttermilk Pike, Lakeside Park, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Contact: Naomi Miller, Northern Kentucky Area Development District, PO Box 668, 22 Spiral Drive, Florence, (859) Freeman Fork Road from a residents view 2-17-04 The road is on Freeman Fork In Breathitt County.Im pretty sure You all are familiar with Freeman Fork Road.Im not to familiar with the road numbers but I think Its take Hwy 30 west at McDonalds to Old Buck,Turn left on 315 to hwy 315/28,turn left on 28 up past the store (Used to be T&T Market) R&M Grocery now,Go a little peace past the store and take the first turn off on the right...This is Good Old Freeman Fork Road!!And We have tried several times to get some work done on the roads just enough to where the buses and mail can travel if nothing else.But They more less laugh at us n say "We will be right up there tomorrow and take a look at it"Its been 3-4 months and as of today Tomorrow still hasnt gotten here yet.George Herald did keep us a driveable road when he was in there.Any ideas on what We can do to get them to fix our beyond driving road?My kids love going to Church,but the bus cannot get here to get them.Our car is ramshackled from having to drive on the undriveable road.And I want to thank our bus driver Virginia for trying to travel the roads as she has to pick our kids up so they dont miss school.Shes a great bus driver.Thanks Virginia! Announcing the Release of Automatic External Defibulators through the Rural Access to Emergency Devices Program 1-24-04 The Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS) along with their statewide partners, the UK Center for Rural Health; the Kentucky Hospital Association; the Kentucky Department for Public Health; and the American Heart Association are proud to announce the placement of the first distribution of automatic external defibrillators (AED) to forty rural communities in Kentucky funded through the Federal government's Rural Access to Emergency Devices grant program. Automatic External Defibrillators are devices that can be used to attempt to "restart" someone's heart in a cardiac arrest situation. This grant comes to Kentucky as a part of a federal initiative to provide public access to defibrillators. This placement of these devices will hopefully lower the incidences of individuals that die each year prior to the arrival of emergency medical services in their community. During this initial phase KBEMS will place 193 AED's with fire and police departments that are willing to make medical first response runs and at locations where large public gatherings take place such as court houses, schools, and senior citizens centers. The first round of devices will be placed in the following counties: Anderson, Ballard, Bath, Bell, Bracken, Breathitt, Butler, Carlisle, Carter, Cumberland, Edmonson, Elliott, Fulton, Hancock, Hart, Henry, Hickman, Jackson, Knott, Larue, Lawrence, Lee, Lewis, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, Magoffin, Martin, McLean, Meade, Menifee, Metcalf, Simpson, Spencer, Trimble, Washington, and Wolfe. In addition to this initial distribution, the statewide partnership has also applied for a continuation grant. Kentucky received the largest grant award in the nation to continue this project through fiscal year 03-04. Those devices will be placed in two phases. In the next phase Adair, Allen, Barren, Breckenridge, Caldwell, Carroll, Casey, Christian, Clark, Clay, Crittenden, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Grayson, Greenup, Hardin, Henderson, Hopkins, Johnson, Knox, Letcher, Mason, McCracken, McCreary, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Muhlenburg, Ohio, Perry, Pike, Rockcastle, Shelby, Todd, Union, and Webster counties will receive the AED's. In the third phase, Bourbon, Boyle, Calloway, Clinton, Daviess, Fayette, Franklin, Garrard, Graves, Green, Harlan, Jessamine, Laurel, Leslie, Lincoln, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Nelson, Nicholas, Owen, Pendleton, Pulaski, Rowan, Russell, Scott, Taylor, Trigg, Warren, Wayne, and Woodford counties will receive AED's. Along with placing the devices in local communities, the grant provides monies to insure that proper training is given to the individuals that will be responding with the devices. The American Heart Association, through the training center at Jefferson County EMS in Louisville will provide AED training at no additional cost to the recipients of the devices. Additional information regarding this project may be obtained by contacting: Brian K. Bishop, Executive Director Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services Phone: 502-564-8963 Email: brian.bishop@ky.gov Wall Falls, damages truck 2-7-04 Jackson Ky. A building which was about to open with a new business, B&B Arcades, had the rear wall collapse early Friday Morning after heavy rainfall. The building apparently had a leaky roof and water damage to the structure. The wall feel and caused minor damage to a pickup truck which was parked behind the structure. The builing is next to the Coroners office and Ky River Office supply on Main street. The parking lot 1st entrance and building have been closed off to the public. New on-line service more customer friendly FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 4, 2004) - A new on-line option for filing for Kentucky unemployment insurance (UI) benefits now makes the process more customer friendly. The new service from the Kentucky Department for Employment Services (DES) called KEWES or Kentucky's Electronic Workplace for Employment Services lets people file new claims and register for work without visiting a DES office. "Unemployment insurance claimants can file their claim anywhere that they can use an Internet-connected computer. This eliminates the need to visit a local office to file an unemployment insurance claim. On-line claim filing has been developed to ensure that job registration and job search requirements are met by each claimant," said DES Commissioner James Thompson. To use the on-line service, go to www.kewes.ky.gov and click on the Unemployment Benefits - Claim Filing option. Claimants will need to fill out information such as social security number, home address and work history to successfully file for unemployment benefits. Claimants who do not have access to the Internet or who speak Spanish can contact the DES office or One-Stop center in their area for information on filing their claim by telephone. Earlier phases of KEWES connected employers to services such as submitting quarterly tax reports and paying unemployment taxes through the Internet. While KEWES on-line service is now available to employers, job seekers and UI claimants, Kentuckians still have the option of going to a local DES office or one-stop career center for assistance. "KEWES eliminates paperwork and the need to reenter duplicate data. It also gives DES staff more time to devote to other customer services such as working with job seekers, screening applicants for employers and matching job seekers with employers' needs," Thompson said. DES is an agency in the Education Cabinet. Gas Price Gouging by Ron Hamblin 2-16-04 Jackson, Ky. I am one of many people who are sick of being gouged at the gas pumps and on my gas my bills. I will be getting more information to the public on who to contact to stop the gouging with gas prices. It is time we stand up for ourselves. Below is a copy of a letter I recently sentthe Attorney General asking for his help. Mr. Stumbo, My name is Ron Hamblin. I live in Jackson Ky,in Breathitt County. I represent a large group of people who are in the process of looking at ways to fight rising gas costs & Gas companies profitting from these gouged prices. I, like many others, received my January, Natural Gas bill, from Public Gas Co. P.O. Box 24000, Lexington Ky. 40524, and was shocked that the bill was $311.44 it's highest ever. This was up from last month's bill of $208.02. There is no real reason for this. Since we purchased this home we have been slowly remodeling and a big area we have targeted has been heating and insulation. This house is far more insulated than it ever was, and we use our heat less. yet amazingly our gas bill continues to rise. In my opinion, from some investigating, this is due to nothing more than price gouging. It is time that consumers and hard working Kentuckians get some help from our elected officials. When people have to take money from groceries or getting their kids, things they need just to pay gouged gas prices, ENOUGH is ENOUGH! WE NEED YOUR HELP. When is it going to stop? When are our elected officials going to come to the aid of the working people? When will a stop be put to gas companies filling their pockets at the expense of the working class? We will be starting an email and letter campaign to all elected officials, State & National. We want this brought to an end. It is time to help the working class. If we can send 87 billion dollars to Iraq, we can start looking after our own American citizens here at home. ENOUGH is ENOUGH. Again, I respectfully ask you to look into this matter immediately. If you would like to Mail a letter to the Attorney General, send it here: Office of the Attorney General The Capitol, Suite 118 700 Capitol Avenue Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-3449 Breathitt Coroners Office has attempted Break -In 2-7-04 Submitted by Coroner Bobby Thorpe Jr. On Wednesday February 4, 2004 an alarm sounded at the Breathitt County Coroner's Office at approximately 2:30 am. Upon inspecting the office Coroner Thorpe found that someone attempted to remove the rear window breaking the window frame to gain access to the building. Video surveilance equipment captured a video of the perpertrator and they fled the scene when the alarm sounded. The incident was reported to the Sheriffs Dept. where it is still being investigated. Fingerprints were also taken at the scene. Coroner Thorpe explained that the alarm system that was in use at the Coroner's Office works via cellular and battery backup and even if someone attempted to cut the phone line to gain access, the alarm would still sound and contact the appropriate authorities. A reward is being offered for for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the persons responsible for the damage at the Coroner's Office. Nothing was taken during the attempt to gain access. "We will prosecute anyone to the fullest extent who attempts to gain entrance to the Coroner's Office or tampers with any property of the Coroner's Office" said Coroner Thorpe. Breathitt releases statement at meeting 1-30-04 Jackson, Ky. Below is the letter given out in the Breathitt School Board Meeting.: The Breathitt County Board of Education has received the "so-called" petition from the City School Board. In my opinion, this is an insult to the intelligence of the Board and me. I do not consider this petition to' be valid for several reasons. Weare in the process of reviewing the signatures along with, the locations of the properties listed and will challenge any fraudulent signatures and questionable claims of property ownership. It is a shame that 4 elected , officials have let 2 people give them poor direction and advice. - I understand that many people have been told that signing this petition would have no effect on the Breathitt County Schools. This is not true. This will have a significant financial impact on our school district. With approximately $400,000 in property revenue being taken, funding for extracurricular activities will have to be decreased - including pay raises for all employees, athletic activities, and many other beneficial activities for students. I want to thank the people of this community who stood up for Breathitt County Schools. I know that they were put under extreme pressure by several individuals numerous times. We appreciate - the support of people who care a bout our school system. We have received several calls ItOm individuals who stated that they didn't understand or were misled as to the outcome of the petition. Anyone may feel free to contact my office if your name was improperly included on the petition. After ten days, a list of the signatures will be published. Never before in my 32 years in public education, have I ever witnessed such a cowardly act. I feel that certain individuals are manipulating parents' minds about this situation and as we all know, their children are their most prized possession and should not be used as a weapon. We will continue to do everything possible to ensure a quality education for the students of Breathitt County Schools. The truth of the matter is "This is the beginning of the end." From this moment on, neither I nor the members of the Breathitt County Board of Education will discuss this situation with the media or the Jackson City Schools. All matters are now in the hands of the Commissioner and the State Board of Education. The Breathitt County School System will continue to operate under the statutes and regulations of the Commonwealth like the rest of the school systems. This letter is in it's entirety. This letter from a viewpoint of those who signed the petition, makes them sound like sheep that can be led around by certain individuals and is in very poor taste. Also this week Breathitt Superintendent sent out the following letters to Jackson Electric & Pacific Lumber. The letter explains that the school system will no longer do business with them. To our knowledge the only businesses that got these letters were those who signed the annexation petition. Jackson Electric company has done business with Breathitt Schools for over 15 years, and have sponsored and supported Breathitt activities for some time now. "To go after businesses for doing what they think is right, is unbelievable" stated Herbie Barnett owner of Jackson Electric. Mr. Barnett also stated he called Mr. Eden and asked him why he got this letter. Mr. Barnett stated that Eden told him, they just didn't want to do business with him. I also called Mr. Eden and asked him about several things to include the letter's to Mr. Barnett & Pacific Lumber supply. He said that Breathitt did this will all businesses the school dealt with and would work from purchase orders from now on. I ask him why only businesses, that signed the petition, got the letters, and he said he could not comment on it. I also asked him about allowing all students to attend BHS, and he said that was the case. I then asked why my son, in particular, who gets good grades and is a good student, was registered at Breathitt practiced football all summer and right before school started we were told he had to go back to City School. Mr. Eden said it was because of the state regulations. I told him that it was not true then, that all kids were accepted at Breathitt. He said he was sorry and did not remember telling me that Breathitt did not want City School kids there. From a parents standpoint, I can only comment on what I was told, and it does not coincide with what was put out to the media at all. Implementation of Body Piercing Regulations 3-5-04 FRANKFORT, KY. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services and local health departments will start regulating body piercing April 1under a law requiring registration and certification. The 2002 law requires persons performing body piercing to become registered with their local health department and to obtain certification of the body piercing studio. Facilities that pierce only ear lobes using an ear piercing gun will be required to obtain a limited ear piercing studio certification and a limited ear piercing registration for each person performing the procedure, according to Anita Travis with the Division of Public Health Protection and Safety. Local health department environmental health inspectors currently provide oversight for the tattoo program and will also provide oversight for the body piercing and limited ear piercing programs. This oversight will include: * The health and cleanliness of places of businesses, * Sterilization of body piercing instruments and equipment, * Procedures to prevent the spread of disease and * The registration process for body piercing and limited ear piercing artists and the certification process for the body piercing and limited ear piercing studios. The body piercing studios will be inspected twice a year, as are the tattoo studios, and the limited ear piercing studios will be inspected once a year. The registration for the studio and those performing procedures will be posted in a conspicuous location within the studio for the general public to view. Currently, there are 400 tattoo artists and 300 tattoo studios statewide. "The new law requires minors wishing to obtain a tattoo or a body piercing to provide a written notarized consent of a custodial parent or a legal guardian," Travis said. Tattooing and body piercing is prohibited on skin which has a rash, pimples, evidence of infection, open lesions, mole, sunburn, or manifests any evidence of unhealthy conditions without the written clearance by a physician licensed by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure. The regulation requires that each client be provided with written and verbal after care instructions that includes information on the care of the tattoo or piercing, possible side effects, any activity restrictions, signs and symptoms of infection and instructions to consult a physician if signs and symptoms of infection such as fever, swelling, redness or drainage occur. "These new regulations will help foster industry uniformity and add a level of protection for our citizens," said Guy F. Delius, acting director of Public Health Protection and Safety. If you have questions about tattoo or body piercing, call your local health department environmental health specialist or the Division of Public Health Protection and Safety at 502/564-7181, Ext: 3718. Early Morning Vehicle Accident Injures two 2-13-04 Watts, Ky. An early Tuesday morning, (Feb. 10th, 2004), single car accident, caused injuries to two females near Watts rd. & Hwy 15. Ridda Hughes & Tracy Stamper Herald we injured when the vehicle they occupied was passing another vehicle and apparently hit rocks in the road which caused them to lose control of the vehicle and crashed. Initials calls made to fire & rescue said the victims were trapped. Upon arrival of the rescue squads, both victims had already been removed. The accident is still under investigation. |
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