Sue-Happy People At it Again - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

FFR · 06-19-2008, 01:31 PM

http://travel.sympatico.msn.ca/Verdi...=abc&date=True

(Sorry for the incredibly long link...I don't know how to link a word)

Lauren Crossan, of Randolph, N.J., had travelled to Hawaii in 2004 with Susanne Sadler, Sadler's daughter, and another New Jersey cheerleader to perform in the halftime show of the Hula Bowl. Within hours of her arrival at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort, Crossan was seen drinking alcohol.
Her body was found the next day on the hotel grounds.
An arbitrator determined last month that Sadler was partially responsible for Crossan's death and ordered her to pay US$690,000 to Crossan's parents and her estate.

I think it's absolutely ridiculous that people can sue because their daughter doesn't make responsible decisions.

BlackArcher101 · 06-19-2008, 01:36 PM

I'm still confused. Where did Crossan get the alcohol? Is the min age in Hawaii 21? Where was Sadler when Crossan was drinking?

GreenTeaFrapp · 06-19-2008, 01:40 PM

I could understand the award except for one key point. After all, Sadler was a chaperon that was responsible for making sure Crossan was safe. However, since Crossan was 18 years old and an adult I don't see why a chaperon was necessary.

She was an adult and died because of her own actions. If it was an 8 year old, I would definitely think the lawsuit was justified.

comrade · 06-19-2008, 03:00 PM

I don't think this case is nearly as black and white as some would suggest. While the 18 criticism makes sense, the chaperone was responsible for her well being nonetheless. My guess is that the specifics surrounding the alcohol is what was important in deciding the case. The Crossan's lawyer James Krueger said:

"If you're a good parent, you're not going to have problems," said Krueger, who has handled numerous cases of children injured while in the custody of someone other than their parents. "If you're a crappy parent, you are."

If the chaperone may have witnessed the girl drinking and didn't stop it then the chaperone is partly responsible, assuming one of the school trip rules was no drinking, regardless of the legal drinking age in Hawaii. The arbitrator (judge?) did say she was partially responsible, which I assume means that the dead girl was also responsible.

Obviously things would be different if the girl snuck in and popped some ecstasy in the hotel bathroom and tried to fly out the window, but the ruling seems justified here from what I can infer anyway.

MelBridgeman · 06-19-2008, 03:12 PM

This is pretty stupid. Another case of parents looking to blame someone else for (in this case) their daughters stupidity. I am sure that if Susanne Sadler knew that she would be held liable for any of the girls on the trip - she wouldn't of even gone, in fact there prob wouldnt of been a trip, because what parent would want to take on that responsibility.

MelBridgeman · 06-19-2008, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

What if the daughter was severly handicapped and under the eye of the chaperone but was still 18?

If you child has special needs, as a parent it is your job to insure that the right care or people are with them, if you can't be. The only way the chaperone should be responsible in my opinion is if they had a direct link to the death, for example doing the deed themselves.

BlackArcher101 · 06-19-2008, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

because what parent would want to take on that responsibility.

Then what's the point of calling yourself a chaperone if you aren't willing to take responsibility of chaperoning? Perhaps to get a free trip to Hawaii out of it... I mean, how hard could it be to watch over 18 year olds? You got lots of free time to yourself!

HalifaxDrunk · 06-19-2008, 03:39 PM

Man, people really take the court system for every ounce they can.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FFR

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MelBridgeman · 06-19-2008, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

Then what's the point of calling yourself a chaperone if you aren't willing to take responsibility of chaperoning? Perhaps to get a free trip to Hawaii out of it... I mean, how hard could it be to watch over 18 year olds? You got lots of free time to yourself!

Well i coach in the Calgary AA hockey system and we travel quite a bit, It isn't easy controlling a bunch of 16/17 year olds..and there is only so much i can do. I can have kids in by curfew, but we can't stay up all night making sure that they don't sneak out and do something that might cause this type of incident. Although we do everything in our power to avoid this, and we usually have parents on the trip to help us out. We also expect alot out of out team leadership as well. So a group of cheerleaders going to Hawaii with only one chaperone stinks in the first place.

Flashpoint · 06-19-2008, 03:54 PM

The lesson here is never volunteer to look after anyone else's kids. You might wind up paying someone 6 figures because they didn't bother to teach a sense of responsibility.

Not very community oriented, but that's certainly how I view it on a personal level.

comrade · 06-19-2008, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

Well i coach in the Calgary AA hockey system and we travel quite a bit, It isn't easy controlling a bunch of 16/17 year olds..and there is only so much i can do. I can have kids in by curfew, but we can't stay up all night making sure that they don't sneak out and do something that might cause this type of incident. Although we do everything in our power to avoid this, and we usually have parents on the trip to help us out. We also expect alot out of out team leadership as well. So a group of cheerleaders going to Hawaii with only one chaperone stinks in the first place.

I think if the lady in the lawsuit had been as diligent as what you describe I don't think the lawsuit would have turned out as it did. The article is too sparse on details to make any absolute opinion of the lawsuit without sounding foolish (in my opinion). It all depends on whether she knew that the girl was drinking or if she was doing what she was supposed to be doing, which isn't known due to the gag order.

Maritime Q-Scout · 06-19-2008, 04:52 PM

man I have frivolous lawsuits. Makes me want to go out and sue the pants off the lawyers!

flip · 06-19-2008, 05:02 PM

One thing I think people are overlooking is: Did the dead girls parent know she had been known to drink? If they knew she had a history of underage drinking it should be their responsibility to let the chaperon know about it.

It would be like if the girl was suicidal or a coke head etc and then died in Hawaii, if the parents knew about it ahead of time the chaperon should be clear of any responsibility if the parents chose not to warn the chaperon.

MelBridgeman · 06-19-2008, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comrade

I think if the lady in the lawsuit had been as diligent as what you describe I don't think the lawsuit would have turned out as it did. The article is too sparse on details to make any absolute opinion of the lawsuit without sounding foolish (in my opinion). It all depends on whether she knew that the girl was drinking or if she was doing what she was supposed to be doing, which isn't known due to the gag order.

I think that goes without saying...we are speculating here. I still thinks its a pile of BS that she is held responsible for this girls death. Even if you do everything in reason to insure the safety of these kids, it doesn't stop anyone from doing what they want.