Radio show employees fired

[jidar]

Following up the previous story, the employees were fired.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6164262.html

Wii-contest radio station fires 10 staff
KDND 107.9's Morning Rave off air indefinitely after the death of a woman in a water-drinking competition.
By Emma Boyes, GameSpot UK
Posted Jan 17, 2007 5:56 am CT

A California radio station has fired 10 employees, including five on-air personalities, after Jennifer Strange, a mother of three, died following her participation in a "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" competition, reports the Sacramento Bee. The 28-year-old died of water intoxication, having consumed an estimated two gallons of water in an attempt to win a Nintendo console for her children. The winner of the contest was to be the person who managed to drink the most water without going to the bathroom.

Strange called into her office after the show and told a coworker that she had a "really bad" headache and would be going straight home. She was found dead in her Rancho Cordova home on Friday afternoon by her mother, who had gone to check on her after being contacted by the concerned coworker.

The DJs had made comments joking about people dying from water intoxication during the show, according to the Sacramento Bee. There was even a discussion about a "poor kid in college"--presumably Matthew Carrington, who also died from water intoxication after a fraternity hazing ritual. One person dismissed the link by saying, "Yeah, well, he was doing other things." During the show, one DJ also admitted, "Maybe we should have researched this."

Two hours into the contest, a female caller, who identified herself as Eva, phoned in to warn the radio station that drinking too much water can kill. She said, "Those people that are drinking all that water can get sick and possibly die from water intoxication." One DJ replied, "We are aware of that," while another added, "They signed releases, so we're not responsible. It's OK."

Twenty contestants took part in the competition, including Strange, who was the runner-up. Other participants said that they became concerned when one woman lay on the ground, with her teeth chattering, and looking pale. At one point Strange was lying on the ground but told staff that she "could probably drink more" if someone could pick her up.

Despite the sackings, the Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness said that there would not be a criminal investigation. He said, "It's not as if she was somehow in their custody and they had a role to care for her. Rather, it was an invitation to a contest that was clearly ill-advised. She was exercising her free will."

A notice on the radio station's Web site stated that an investigation was underway. It reads, "First and foremost, our thoughts and sympathies go out to Jennifer's family and loved ones. I also want to assure you that the circumstances regarding this matter are being examined as thoroughly as possible. We are doing everything we can to deal with this difficult situation in a manner that is both respectful and responsible."

Wow. Just wow. How stupid are these people? All of that warning and they continued.

[Fish]

How frustrating/sad would it be for that poor nurse that called in? She's actually concerned... and knows how dangerous it is... tries to help and gets laughed at by the DJs...

And then she was right....

What a bum deal...

[Hydrae]

Originally Posted by Skip Towne

With God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.

Not when they are frozen.

[luv]

Originally Posted by King_Chief_Fan

stupid contest.

really stupid contestant. are you suggesting that she has no liability for the stupid decision she made to continue after warnings were given?

I think she paid the price, don't you? I agree that the station/employees should be charged with something. They obviously knowingly put people into harm's way, and someone died as a result.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by King_Chief_Fan

stupid contest.

really stupid contestant. are you suggesting that she has no liability for the stupid decision she made to continue after warnings were given?

Of course she did. But then she wasn't the only one who was endangered. It was whomever was in the contest and continuing after the DJs were notified of the possible dangers. THEY were the ones in charge of the contest. It was THEIR responsibility to ensure the safety of the participants or CANCEL their promo after they became aware of the danger.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by Hydrae

Did her kids get a Wii anyway? Would be a shame to lose their mother and not at least get a game console.


Ok, I may be going to hell now.

They'll be able to buy them by the truckload after a few court appearances....

[crazycoffey]

Originally Posted by Hydrae

Not when they are frozen.

I have one word for you


"Sling-shot"

[King_Chief_Fan]

Originally Posted by memyselfI

Of course she did. But then she wasn't the only one who was endangered. It was whomever was in the contest and continuing after the DJs were notified of the possible dangers. THEY were the ones in charge of the contest. It was THEIR responsibility to ensure the safety of the participants or CANCEL their promo after they became aware of the danger.

I don't think you believe that. I think if you were a contestant one of two things would have happened.
1) pissed your pants before you became ill
2) smart enough to know when to stop

I might even give you enough credit to be too smart to enter.

I can't buy that people will do what ever for a lousy $250.00 item.
I also can't buy that the average dumb ass is dumb enough to let a dumb ass disc jockey been in control of their health/safety.

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by luv

I think she paid the price, don't you? I agree that the station/employees should be charged with something. They obviously knowingly put people into harm's way, and someone died as a result.

I'm not a legal expert but I guess it could be involuntary manslaughter. There was no intent to harm, but the DJs knew the dangers of the situation and paid no regard for them, resulting in death. I'm not sure how the "she should have known better" factor comes into play.

If she signed a release though, I don't know how the children would have any recourse to collect damages in a civil action.

IMO, the stupid is split 50/50 here, between the DJs ignoring the warnings and the woman who risked her life and her 3 childrens' welfare for a Nintendo.

[Mecca]

When you are asked to sign a release you know something you are doing can be harmful.......It's a stupid contest but you should also be smart enough to not participate in things that can kill you.

All the contestants heard the callers and discussions about how to much water can kill you, they continued on.

Sure the DJ's should get some blame but the woman who died also takes some for going on despite knowing what could happen.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by King_Chief_Fan

I don't think you believe that. I think if you were a contestant one of two things would have happened.
1) pissed your pants before you became ill
2) smart enough to know when to stop

I might even give you enough credit to be too smart to enter.

I can't buy that people will do what ever for a lousy $250.00 item.
I also can't buy that the average dumb ass is dumb enough to let a dumb ass disc jockey been in control of their health/safety.

I wouldn't enter because I intentionally do not give my kids the newest gadgets from the video gaming industry (racket) on principle...

But these folks are no different than those who camp out for HOURS in freezing conditions to buy their kids one of these systems on Black Friday. Or who buy them for 100%+ markup on Ebay. Or who trample over others running through the stores to pick up one for their brats waiting at home...

the point is there ARE a NUMBER OF PEOPLE out there who will do something foolish, ANYTHING, in order to get their hands on one of these systems so they can either feel better about themselves or delude themselves into thinking their kids will feel better about them.

The radio station KNOWS this and that is why they can sponsor a constest that is so demeaning and dangerous and have people actually try to win a spot in the contest. Afterall, compared to spending thousands on Ebay for this system, drinking ALOT of water sounds EASY.

The point is, BOTH parties, the contestants AND the station, were wrong in they had motives that were selfish. In the end, one woman paid for it with her life and her kids paid an even higher price for something that in a year or two will be worth $100 because the newest must have gadget will have replaced it.

It's an outrageous commentary on the values/lack of we have in our society.

[HMc]

Originally Posted by Cochise

I'm not a legal expert but I guess it could be involuntary manslaughter. There was no intent to harm, but the DJs knew the dangers of the situation and paid no regard for them, resulting in death. I'm not sure how the "she should have known better" factor comes into play.

If she signed a release though, I don't know how the children would have any recourse to collect damages in a civil action.

IMO, the stupid is split 50/50 here, between the DJs ignoring the warnings and the woman who risked her life and her 3 childrens' welfare for a Nintendo.

Hey can you apportion 50% of the blame to her yet not acknowledge that she should have known it wasn't a great idea? Seems a little contradictory to me.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by Mecca

When you are asked to sign a release you know something you are doing can be harmful.......It's a stupid contest but you should also be smart enough to not participate in things that can kill you.

All the contestants heard the callers and discussions about how to much water can kill you, they continued on.

Sure the DJ's should get some blame but the woman who died also takes some for going on despite knowing what could happen.

Apparently the releases they signed said nothing of medical concerns. Only of promotional and marketing conditions.

[jidar]

I don't believe the releases matter as far as the criminal investigation is concerned anyway.

I agree, and I bet that mmsi does as well, that the lady was dumb and should have known better, but I don't think that absolves the radio station employees and in fact I think a criminal investigation is warranted.

Involuntary Manslaughter might be the right charge here.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by Cochise

I'm not a legal expert but I guess it could be involuntary manslaughter. There was no intent to harm, but the DJs knew the dangers of the situation and paid no regard for them, resulting in death. I'm not sure how the "she should have known better" factor comes into play.

If she signed a release though, I don't know how the children would have any recourse to collect damages in a civil action.

IMO, the stupid is split 50/50 here, between the DJs ignoring the warnings and the woman who risked her life and her 3 childrens' welfare for a Nintendo.

NFW should there be ANY legal responsibility on the part of the radio station. You sign a waiver, it's over. Nobody forced anyone to do anything against their free-will.

The stupid is all on the contestant. Period. End of Story.

[memyselfI]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

NFW should there be ANY legal responsibility on the part of the radio station. You sign a waiver, it's over. Nobody forced anyone to do anything against their free-will.

The stupid is all on the contestant. Period. End of Story.

Even if the waiver was regarding publicity and marketing and NOT medical?