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April 24, 2008
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THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured
Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and
is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. For more information, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit us on our website at http://www.ON-A-BIKE.com
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National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)
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From the
GUNNY'S SACK
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By the time some of you get to read this issue of the Gunny's pearls,
the National Coalition of Motorcyclists Convention should be almost in
full swing - that's the three days before Mother's Day in Houston.
Hope I got 'ta see ya there!
One of our premier speakers this year will be Slider Gilmore, a
biker-paramedic and Iowa hog farmer who is well known for his
presentation on HOW TO SURVIVE a bike accident, and what to do
immediately after, to save a life. As we all know, the first or
"Golden Hour" is often when the difference is determined how well or
even if a person will survive such a devastating mishap. It's a
"don't-miss" event. Right before Slider's talk, Oregon AIM Attorney
Sam Hochberg and New England AIM Attorney Joe Ritzo will be talking
about INSURANCE - which is about surviving an accident too -
financially.
I'm reminded that the riding season is soon to arrive for those of us
that maybe don't get to ride during the winter months due to climate.
We are fortunate here in Oregon that for the most part we can ride
year round, if a bit wet sometimes. This is one of the most beautiful
states in the union and a joy to ride in anyway. Welp, enough of the
meandering and time to get to the meat and potatoes of this missive.
NEWSBITS 'N' PIECES:
ROAD-RAGE VICTIM BRINGS $10M SUIT VS. FEDS
Award-winning court and crime reporter Laurel J. Sweet tells us a
South Boston motorcyclist who was nearly killed two years ago in a
road-rage attack by a federal agent has brought a $10 million lawsuit
against the U.S. government.
Frank Merlonghi, 47, is a laid-up Amtrak lineman presently facing his
13th surgery since the March, 2006, incident, when an armed export
enforcer for the U.S. Department of Commerce drove into Merlonghi's
Harley-Davidson with a government-issued Nissan Maxima and then fled.
The driver was found and went to prison for six months and had to do
100 hours of community service, but he wasn't required to take care of
the man he nearly killed.
Merlonghi wants the driver and his boss, the Feds, held liable in his
civil action. The rider was put in a medically induced coma after his
right arm was shattered, his ribs broken and the flesh on one leg
carved off to the bone from the impact with the federal car. There is
a lot more to this story but the guy is suing the feds and I for one
hope he prevails. The man that caused the whole thing should be held
MORE responsible. There is no excuse for running over a motorcyclist
and absolutely none for fleeing the scene of any accident no matter
who or what is involved.
REMEMBERING SIMON MILWARD:
Many of you folks out there may not remember who this man was, so I'll
help ya out some. I met Simon at the first NCOM Convention I attended
in 1993. I had just started working with our Oregon AIM attorney Sam
Hochberg. At that time, Simon was General Secretary to Europe's FEMA,
the Federation of European Motorcycle Associations. Shortly after that
he resigned and took his life savings and started a motorcycle trip
around the world he named "The Millennium Ride." The purpose was to
raise money for "Motorcycle Outreach", a group of folks raising funds
to supply motorcycles for medical folks to get into the back-country
of developing nations to provide medical treatment of those people
that have no other means of getting medical care. During this trip
around the world he lost his life in an accident just a few thousand
miles from home. What Simon started and what it stands for is still
alive. Those of you interested in the results of this quest are
invited to go to: http://www.millennium-ride.com/.
For updates as to what is happening on Simon's fundraising effort,
check here: http://www.motorcycleoutreach.org . Simon will remain in
my memory for the work he gave his life to, and the person he was.
BATON ROUGE, LA:
You'd think Louisiana's helmet law was riding a
bungee cord. There's another bill to repeal their on-again-off-again
mandatory lid law, filed by Sen. Eric LaFleur, a Democrat from Ville
Platte. This time, however, they have support from their governor,
unlike before when the governor made a personal push to reinstate the
helmet law that the governor before that helped repeal! All riders in
the state of Louisiana should write their lawmakers urging them to
support this bill, and we wish ya'll luck!
AUSTRALIA:
World champion motorcycle racer Casey Stoner has called for
laws to require riders to wear more protective equipment than just a
helmet. He says: "It would be a great idea to introduce a minimum
standard of clothing for all motorcyclists to ensure an acceptable
standard of protection." I for one don't want to be compelled to wear
a universal set of clothes that is mandated by people who have no
knowledge of the climate or conditions in which I might ride at any
given time. My dignity has been invaded enough with the HELMET laws I
have to deal with. This is really scary. How in the world can someone
in a foreign country tell me what I need for protection from cagers in
my country? Just BLOWS my mind.
TORONTO, CANADA:
From our Ontario AIM Attorney Jeff Chapnick comes
this news piece. In March, a trial judge here said the Hells Angels
were nothing more than a social club and should be regarded as such at
the trial of some of their members in a criminal case. One of these
folks was acquitted and a couple were guilty as charged. The acquittal
meant he could not be found guilty of a second charge of directing a
criminal organization, the judge said.
The trial was a key test of new Canadian federal anti-gang
legislation, and if the Hells Angels were deemed a criminal
organization in court, police would have been able to seize their
assets.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA:
RateMyCop.com, a new and widely publicized web
site that allows users to say whatever they want about thousands of
individual police officers, has drawn a mixture of ratings itself. If
they did that in every state, maybe the police would be a little more
cautious when they stop scooter folks. I think it would be good for
all of us, cops too.
GUNNY AGAIN:
Remember the AIM attorneys in our world are a part of our
community and are very aware of the problems we face on a daily basis.
Don't try and take care of your accidents on your own. We aren't
trained for it, and our AIM guys are. Call them at 1-800-ON-A-BIKE if
ya have a problem, you'll be doin' yurself a favor.
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Keep the round side on the bottom.
Gunny, Oregon AIM Chief of Staff
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Copyright 2008, National Coalition of Motorcyclists
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