Korean Job Discussion Forums

[madoka]

As soon as I read about the toddler's death in November, I wondered when the lawsuit would come. Now it's here:

The family of a toddler who died after plunging at least 30 feet from a luxury box at Staples Center filed suit against the owners of the venue alleging that a poorly designed barrier led to the incident.

The suit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, names Staples Center owner Anschutz Entertainment Group, and the operator of the arena, L.A. Arena Co., as defendants in connection with the death of Lucas Tang, 2, who fell from the box following a Lakers game last year.

Lawyers for the family of Lucas Tang allege that the barrier in front of the boxes was only 2 feet high and that ownership provided "no warnings of the dangerous condition, either by signs, oral statements by employees, or otherwise."

The plaintiffs allege that the dangerous condition was allowed to persist because the arena would make more money if fans had an unobstructed view of the game, their attorneys Scott Wellman and Stuart Miller said in a statement.

Michael Roth, vice president of communications for AEG, said the firm had no immediate comment because they had not received a copy of the lawsuit.

Moments before the fall, the Tang family -- including Lucas, his parents and 11-year-old sister -- were taking pictures in front of the plexiglass barrier meant to protect fans from the steep drop.

But as the family was reviewing pictures on their digital camera, Lucas somehow made his way over the barrier and plummeted nearly 30 feet, landing on a row of empty seats. Lucas died the next morning at a local hospital. He would have turned 3 in January.

It was the first fatality of its kind at the arena, which opened a decade ago.

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Hey, what parent could have possibly known that a 30 foot fall could kill a 2 year old kid. There should have been warnings plastered all over so people would know.

The parents should have also sued the camera manufacturer for creating a distracting device, plexiglass manufacturers for making it clear, the Lakers for causing the family to come out to see them, the city of LA for allowing Staples Center to be built, and all the popcorn vendors for failing to catch their kid.

[Italy37612]

They are just looking for a scapegoat so they don't appear to be worthless parents. 100% their fault though. I really hope they don't win the lawsuit.

[jfromtheway]

I'm struggling to find the larger picture relationship between the title of your post and the text within it. You should elaborate on that. I assume you feel that this particular team of lawyers (and the family of the kid) are banking on the owners of the Staples Center to settle and make them some money, but I don't believe that's something you can equate with an inability to "do business" in the US. It's unfortunate, and I'm sure the family as well as the lawyers will get paid, but the family's own negligence or inattention should also be worth mentioning.

I can guarantee you though, that the Lakers (Clippers or Kings), Staple Center financiers, lawyers from both sides, and other business interests with stake in the SC, will not be losing very much. That settlement will be nothing more than a temporary black eye for their business, a $2000 maintenance fee, and a general blip in their books. The family lost their kid, yes, it's sad, but eventually that will be replaced with money, which is what they want, and there likely isn't a better replacement option available.

[tatertot]

[7drunkennights]

The standard height minimum for barriers or handrails in public places (in western Europe anyway) is normally 1100mm, around 3 feet 8 inches. I would say that either the architects who designed the railing, the construction company who installed the barrier or the person who actually signed off on the project is guilty of professional negligence.

[RangerMcGreggor]

Many large companies actually budget a "lawsuit" money sorta

[ThingsComeAround]

It is a shame they lost a child.
However, they didn't watch him carefully. How long does it take to review photos? On a digital camera? Can't it wait until they are all home? That is not the fault of the business.

[alwaysbeclosing100]

[7drunkennights]

I'm not saying it's the fault of the businness. Its the fault of the professionals whose job it is to minimise the chances that idiots can harm themselves. Obviously it's also the fault of the parents for not taking care of the children also but there is a case if the building regulations weren't followed. Granted i have no idea what the building regulations are like in LA!

[coralreefer_1]

I think what Madoka is getting at is that it is not so much of an inability to "do business" as much as the fact that for what seems like a whole generation now, people have been rewarded in the form of monetary funds for being as irresponsible as they could possibly be.

I am not that old, but i do recall a time when "common sense" was something that was expected of people, and when someone injured themselves or others, they pretty much had to chalk it up to having a lack of common sense, making a poor decision, bad judgement call...etc.

Common sense would tell you that it is not a good idea to go to a construction site drunk and operate nail guns. However if that were to happen and Joe Blow shoots himself in the head with a nail gun, he can and likely will find some lawyer to convince him that he has no responsibility at all and that it is the fault of the nail gun manufacturer for not building safety devices on their product that are "drunk idiot proof"

In other words..it really doesn't matter what you do as a business, if you happen to be unlucky there will always be some way that some person will find away to sue you for their own irresponsibility.

[NohopeSeriously]

This sad American reality comes from the fact that lawyers in every state are abusing more power for their gain.

A lawyer is a bigger threat than a petty drug dealer.

[DorkothyParker]

This isn't exactly a small family business. There is not excuse for cutting corners. They can "suck it" as far as I'm concerned. I have no sympathy for corporations.

[coralreefer_1]

[coralreefer_1]

Just to add a bit more to the story..i will relate this.

I used to work in a pizza restaurant as a teenager. There was one customer that used to come in...really nice guy...but he was HUGE and wore a colostomy bag because of some problem with his stomach. If you know what a colostomy bag is, and have ever been around one..then you know the kind of "smell" that comes from it.

That guy came there nearly every lunch, and although more than a few customers complained about the smell..the management's hands were tied as he was "disabled" and asking him to leave or to not return would have been a form of discrimination. (lawsuit heaven)

So one day on a Sunday just after church, the restaurant was full of typical older church folks..and the guy was there. In the booth directly behind him was a group of elderly folks. Well basically one of them caught a wiff of the "bag"..and began dry heaving and eventually threw up all over the table. Sadly for her...during the "dry heaving" as a result of the smell...she broke three of her own ribs.

It wasnt more than a week later we were informed that the elderly lady was suing the company (it was a corporate/chain pizza restaurant very similar to pizza hut) for 300,000 USD to cover her medical expenses and the mental anguish/disturbance she had to endure because of the embarrassment of vomiting in public/pain and suffering.....etc etc...

My point is...in this case (like the OP article) there is not much anyone can do. Cant ask the man to leave, but yet no way to prevent that elderly woman or any other customer from smelling that scent. Spray the man down with air freshener and he complains/sues///ask him to leave and he complains/sues..let him stay and customers complain...and one eventually sued.

[Fox]