the problem is... they let the burglar live when they found him....


----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Berry" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2003 5:21 AM
Subject: Re: Tragedy at a Chicago museum


> Given the right attorney, the crassest stupidity can be made to pay off.
> Some years ago in California a burglar fell through a skylight while
trying
> to break into a building and successfully sued his intended victim for
> damages.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Thomas Berry, Archivist
> Historical Construction Equipment Association
> 16623 Liberty Hi Road
> Bowling Green, Ohio 43402
> Phone 419-352-5616
> Fax 419-352-6086
> [log in to unmask]
> http://www.hcea.net
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: James F. Johnson
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2003 8:06 PM
> Subject: Re: Tragedy at a Chicago museum
>
>
> This looks like a case of an enticing feature (stairwell banister) rather
> than an unsafe feature of normal use (loose banister, worn steps, uneven
> floor level across a threshold, etc). Poor judgement on at least the part
of
> the student who attempted to slide down it, possibly anysupervising adults
> with the group as well.
>
> It's been years since I was at CMSI (1973 exactly), but I would assume the
> stairway has been there a long time. How many others have attempted to
slide
> down the banister? (Basically, were the staff aware of the 'temptation' of
> the banister from prior activity?) I tend to think not as yet, or not
often,
> as the museum would at least likely response with a sign to keep of the
> banister, and the report made no report of it.
>
> So, how do you anticipate stupid actions by others unless you can look at
> the features of your museum with the same 'stupid' mindset and ease of
> temptation? On a philosphical level, does not legal liability, if we are
> assigned it, require us to be at least as stupid as those at risk?
>
> My mother could never figure out how her two toddlers were getting into so
> much stuff until one day she happened to look around while down on her
knees
> picking up something. At that eye level, there was just so much stuff....
>
> Do you 'test' a new museum by inviting the nearest juvinile detention
> facility to spend the day in the building?
>
>
>
> --
> James F. Johnson
> [log in to unmask]
> ================================================================
> "In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but
> the silence of our friends."- Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)
>
>
> ========================================================= Important
> Subscriber Information:
> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
> http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed
> information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail
message
> to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read
"help"
> (without the quotes).
> If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to
> [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read
"Signoff
> Museum-L" (without the quotes).
>
> =========================================================
> Important Subscriber Information:
>
> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed
information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message
to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help"
(without the quotes).
>
> If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to
[log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff
Museum-L" (without the quotes).
>

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).