Inspiring Thanksgiving Day Parade Injury Story ... sure to upset aboutready
Started by hfscomm1
about 16 years ago
Posts: 1590
Member since: Oct 2009
Discussion about
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/25/family-didnt-sueafter-balloon-fell-and-still-wouldnt/ Family Didn’t Sue After Balloon Fell, and Still Wouldn’t By A. G. SULZBERGER The injuries themselves were unremarkable, a chipped tooth, a cut requiring nine stitches, a bruised forehead. But the reaction to the accident that caused them provoked disbelief. Stephen and Suzanne Chamberlain, whose... [more]
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/25/family-didnt-sueafter-balloon-fell-and-still-wouldnt/ Family Didn’t Sue After Balloon Fell, and Still Wouldn’t By A. G. SULZBERGER The injuries themselves were unremarkable, a chipped tooth, a cut requiring nine stitches, a bruised forehead. But the reaction to the accident that caused them provoked disbelief. Stephen and Suzanne Chamberlain, whose daughters were struck when a light fixture in Times Square was toppled by a renegade balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2005, did not sue. In this age of quick-trigger court battles and huge financial settlements, the Chamberlains made the decision simply to accept the apology of the grateful — and surprised — parade organizers. (Though that was followed with some gifts of thanks.) “That’s the decision that we still live by,” Mr. Chamberlain said this week. “The girls aren’t seriously injured, so there was no reason to.” On Thursday, for the first time in its 83-year history, the parade will bypass Broadway and the traffic island in Times Square where a 515-pound M&M balloon became tangled in a street lamp, tearing part of it down onto 11-year-old Sarah and 26-year-old Mary four years ago. Instead, the balloons and floats, marching bands and clown troops will be routed along a winding path along Central Park West, Central Park South, Seventh Avenue, 42nd Street, Avenue of the Americas and 34th Street. Those added twists and turns — the parade will round six corners compared with three in recent years — will keep organizers on guard to prevent another similar calamity. As it has every year since the accident, the Chamberlain family will watch the procession from the exclusive grandstand seating at the end of the route provided by parade organizers. The ritual will begin with a 2 a.m. wake-up and a drive from the family home in Albany to Tarrytown, where they will catch a train to the city and head to their seats early to catch up with the parade organizers, who have taken an interest in the family, Mr. Chamberlain said. (“They’ve been very generous toward the parade,” said Robin Hall, the parade director. “They’ve been huge fans; they always have been.”) Sarah is now a sophomore in high school, her chipped tooth invisible beneath her braces and the small scar hidden under her hair. Mary, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, just turned 30, and the bruises she received have long since faded. A third daughter, Cate, 12, and a son Matthew, 16, were not injured. On Nov. 24, 2005, the family members were enjoying their prime viewing spots on a traffic island at 43rd Street and Broadway, when balloon handlers lost control of a 50-foot-tall M&M balloon. Swinging from side to side, the balloon careered off an office building and into a light pole, impaling itself. As it deflated it ripped off a 30-pound metal and glass light fixture that fell into the crowd, part of it landing on Mary’s wheelchair and part of it striking Sarah. “I didn’t really feel it,” Sarah remembered. “I just got knocked to the ground. I wanted to watch the end of the parade.” Instead, they were taken to a hospital. The scene was a terrifying replay of another accident that also prompted tighter restrictions on the handling of balloons. In 1997, a six-story tall Cat in the Hat balloon caught in wind gusts of more than 40 miles per hour careered into a steel lamppost at 72nd Street and Central Park West, sheering off part of it. Four people were injured, including Kathleen Caronna, who was in a coma for 24 days. Ms. Caronna sued the department store, the city and a city contractor for $395 million but settled the case with Macy’s for an undisclosed amount on the eve of the trial. The other three people injured — one received a gash to the head and a broken hand, and the other two received bruised cheeks, also filed lawsuits. (In a statement Macy’s declined to answer questions about any previous or current lawsuits.) But Mr. Chamberlain, who is the staff director of the New York State Public Employees Federation, immediately declared that he would not sue. He said that reporters’ jaws dropped and that friends and co-workers offered feedback like, “What’re you, nuts?” “It tells you a lot about our society,” he said. “Its kind of surprising that doing the right thing brought that kind of recognition.” Edward D. Friedman, a partner at the personal injury firm of Friedman & Simon, reached through 1-800-LAWYERS, said that although the sensational nature of the accident “would probably inflate” the value of a legal claim, he endorsed the Chamberlains’ approach. “If they weren’t hurt, that’s the right thing to do,” he said. “To approach it otherwise is to have a sweepstakes mentality about it.” Not that the family was ignored. Sarah and Mary received hospital visits from Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Santa Claus. Macy’s paid for the medical bills, a night on the town for the family, and a shopping spree (Mary picked up clothes; Sarah, a chocolate fountain). And at every parade since the accident, the family has sat front and center. Robin Hall, the parade director, rattles off a description of the family as sensible, down to earth, a model for others and “very accepting of that situation.” He said he liked to think that most families would be like the Chamberlains, under the circumstances. “This family made this decision totally on their own and they made it immediately,” Mr. Hall said. “They’re the only family who ever became famous for not suing.” [less]
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Let it rest you are obsessed.
don't you have a turkey to defrost? Get a life dude/dudette.... oh yeah, congrats on holding an "on-line" grudge. Sure your parents are proud! What a fuckign loser.
Riversider
about 8 hours ago
ignore this person
report abuse Let it rest you are obsessed.
seriously?
w67thstreet
about 8 hours ago
ignore this person
report abuse don't you have a turkey to defrost? Get a life dude/dudette.... oh yeah, congrats on holding an "on-line" grudge. Sure your parents are proud! What a fuckign loser.
thanks for being part of the discussion. Congrats on calling me a dude or dudette. Bet your family is proud too. What a fucking loser.
looks like you've moved way past the chuckling stage---your true colors are shining through.
Which colors would that be columbiacounty?
Hfs. That would be the blue haterade. Drink in moderation. When I was in grammar school, had a mini douche like you. Who couldn't, shall I say verbally 'hang', he's only come backs were 'your mama' and to repeat the exact schnap replacing 'him' with me. I never saw that kid after spring break 7th grade. Rumor has it he asked to be transferred. Is that you hfs, it's been a long time. Glad to see you didn't commit suicide.
Happy gobble gobble.
Which school was that? Who was your homeroom teacher?
looks like the butterball button popped.
From my family to yours cc, happy thksgiving. Got to sail an oyster 66. Beautiful boat.
Yes the button did pop. Enjoy cc.
you too, my friend. at this stage of the game, i'm happy to stick with eating oysters!
I think the image of a horny shriveled columbiacounty eating oysters is something most of us could do without. I suspect this is one area that me and your kid sister aboutready can agree.
Yuck, shriveled old man, keep to yourself.
CC's wife is a hottie... wouldn't be worried about his "horniness." just chk your self-righteous self... don't choke on a bone.... they've got the B team in the ER today...
Are you hitting on columbiacounty's wife? Isn't she a bit too old for you?
thanks for the good words. hfscomm1---how miserable is it all for you?
Your wife? We've never met, I really couldn't answer that question.
kind of like "your mama?" no? best you can do?
so...how miserable are you?
I couldn't hold a candle to you my friend.
I do appreciate you helping to keep this thread towards the top.
so...how miserable are you?
What's the scale I should be using to answer your question?
so...how miserable are you?
Hey by the way, since it seems to be just the two of us on tonight, help me out, I still haven't gotten an answer to an earlier question I asked you: Why do you hate some liars but when aboutready lies you seem to be ok with it?
so...how miserable are you?
wait, was that a cut and paste auto-reply?
nope...you clearly are upset and have major beef. tell us about it.
Quick, autoreply again!
why are you so upset? who hurt your feelings?
Actually, I'd like an answer to my question on why you are ok with some liars and not others. I actually asked you that question a couple weeks ago, way before you asked me about my misery, so I think I'm over due for a reply. In all fairness, ok?
why are you so angry? what are you trying to prove?
I'm angry?? Amusing.
But seriously, I'm supposed to be the miserable pimply 15 year old.
And you are supposed to be the one with a "hottie" wife.
So logically I should be here all miserable, but how can we all figure your situation?
its never been about me; its all about you. why are you obsessed with striking back here? who hurt your feelings and when?
Actually, it never has been about me and I'm not sure it will become about me.
But while we are here, tell us about your preference for certain liars.
Thanks
why do you constantly attack? what's the point? who upset you and when?
Just tell us, why is it ok for aboutready to lie, but others not?
you do realize that you present as a nut job, right? it seems to please you, which just makes you seem even more of a wackoh. you seem to relish this? why?
I guess we are like peas in a pod.
really? you think i'm a nut job, like you?
you disagree?
obviously....
this is pathetic.
so what would you say is the main distinction then between us?
you're a nut job.
seriously, how are we different?
watch.
I'll be watching, thanks.
Should I expect to see something soon or maybe in a few hours?
never speak to me as if somehow we are friends; we are not---nor we will ever be. keep going with your endless toilet seat bullshit...no one else will even deal with you anymore....haven't you figured that out yet?
Actually, I think we've been dealing with each other for the past hour.
So, should I expect to see something soon or maybe in a few hours?
Or was that it?
you can't seem to understand english....no one else implies that i am unfortunately still dealing with you. look at this string that you started---why? does this all make you feel important? this is pathetic.
Actually I speak and flawless English.
But seriously, we shouldn't end this discussion without the understanding of your preference for certain liars over others.
oh look, I got myself ... I speak and WRITE flawless English! Good for me.
apparently you're getting a little upset. hilarious.
do you cut yourself too?
Yes, but we should get back to the issue at hand regarding your preference for certain liars.
really? tell us more.
Do I cut myself, no.
do you have a job? do you interact with other people other than here?
Yes, but I don't work Thanksgiving.
why do you keep changing your anonymous name here?
So many questions about me. But few answers from you about your preference for some liars.
what do you do at this so called job of yours?
Wait, it's your turn to tell us about why you like some liars.
hey---we get it...you're a born and bred liar so curious about how you will lie about this.
Who is "we"?
everyone who reads your posts....you do realize how you come off here, right? thought you enjoyed being seen as a jerk?
Like I said, we are peas in a pod.
i don't enjoy being seen as a jerk.
That's my line too!
your mama, again?
pathetic.
You are right, but don't go off in a huff without telling us about why it is ok for some of your friends and family to lie but not others.
your condescending bullshit gets real thin. if i'm right, why don't you go away and stay away. forever.
Well, ok we can put that aside for a bit. But in the interim, you said I should watch for something. Again, will that be any moment now or in a few hours or so?
go away and stay away forever....lets put that front and center. what the fuck---all you're gonna do is come back with yet another dumb shit name.
apparently you're getting a little upset. hilarious.
there you again---your mama? no...i'm not upset, i'm bored.
so...how miserable are you?
not in the least. life is grand. got no complaints.
why are you so angry? what are you trying to prove?
jesus...you dumb fuck...you gotta come up with some better material...this is getting ridiculous.
you do realize how you come off here, right?
hey, who knew, columbiacounty has his own home business online
http://www.gargamel.net
"you do realize how you come off here, right?"
thats a funny one coming from hfs.
hfs.... letz see 20 posters against one poster..... I take 10 minutes smacking you down... you've got me and 20 others to parry... 200 minutes/day, 7 days aweek, ....WOW, ya coulda been a contender.... in something worthwhile...
Like I said, the majority of us like our watering hole... you don't even like to drink. FLMAO.
somewhereelse
about 1 hour ago
ignore this person
report abuse "you do realize how you come off here, right?"
thats a funny one coming from hfs.
somewhereelse, I thought I was on ignore.
Use your Harvard education, read the thread, try to understand it.
w67thstreet
14 minutes ago
ignore this person
report abuse
hfs.... letz see 20 posters against one poster.....
I have a lot of impact, thanks for noticing
hi hfscomm1
alame, w67th, please help in my search for mimi. I'm concerned she might fall into the wrong hands. Remember, she can't be squeezed.
http://ihasahotdog.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/funny-dog-pictures-no-squeeze-me.jpg
hi hfscomm1
have you found mimi?
hi hfscomm1
burp
whoops, reading too much w67th, I meant bump
hi hfscomm1
please, please, you can call me comm1, go ahead it's ok
hi hfscomm1