Ouch: Lawsuit Claims Stripper Apparatus Amputated Thumb

A recent lawsuit has shed light on the dangers of using stripper poles and other related apparatuses. The lawsuit, filed in a Florida court, claims that a woman’s thumb was amputated after using a stripper pole in a home exercise room. The incident has raised questions about the safety of these products and the responsibility of manufacturers and sellers.

The Incident

According to the lawsuit, the woman was using a stripper pole in her home exercise room when the pole suddenly detached from the ceiling. The woman fell, and her thumb became trapped in the mechanism used to secure the pole to the ceiling. As a result, her thumb was amputated.

The woman and her husband have filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer of the apparatus, as well as the seller and installer. They claim that the product was defective and that the defendants failed to provide adequate warnings about the dangers of using it.

The Dangerous Nature of Stripper Poles

Stripper poles and related apparatuses have become increasingly popular in recent years as workout and dance equipment. However, these products can be dangerous if not used properly or if they are defective. In addition to the incident described in the lawsuit, there have been other reports of injuries caused by these products, including broken bones, head injuries, and bruises.

The Responsibility of Manufacturers and Sellers

The lawsuit raises important questions about the responsibility of manufacturers and sellers of these products. It is the responsibility of these parties to ensure that their products are safe and meet all applicable safety standards. In addition, they have a duty to provide adequate warnings about any known dangers associated with the product.

If a product is defective or if adequate warnings are not provided, the manufacturer, seller, or installer may be held liable for any injuries caused by the product. This is known as product liability, and it is an important legal principle designed to protect consumers from harm caused by unsafe products.

Preventing Stripper Pole Injuries

If you are considering using a stripper pole or related apparatus, it is important to take precautions to prevent injury. This includes ensuring that the product is properly installed and secure, using appropriate safety gear, and following all instructions and warnings provided by the manufacturer.

In addition, it is important to purchase products from reputable manufacturers and sellers who have a proven track record of producing safe and reliable products. This can help reduce the risk of injury and provide greater peace of mind.

Conclusion

The recent lawsuit involving a stripper pole and an amputated thumb serves as a reminder of the potential dangers associated with these types of products. It is essential for consumers to take steps to protect themselves by using caution and purchasing products from trusted sources. In addition, manufacturers and sellers have a duty to ensure the safety of their products and to provide adequate warnings if necessary. By working together, we can help prevent injuries and create a safer marketplace for all.

A woman who had trained to perform in aerial acts including circus trapeze acts is suing a Philadelphia strip club after her thumb was severed by an apparatus during a stripping competition.  According to Sarah Berry, 35, the club had not adequately inspected, designed, built, or tested the metal prop she used to perform a routine in July 2011.

The strip club, Delilah’s, holds an annual “Delilah’s Diamond G-String” competition, and offers a cash prize of $10,000 for the woman who wins the contest.  Women participating in the competition were allowed to use a wide variety of props in order to help them out-dance other competitors.  In addition to traditional stripper apparatus like the stripper pole and a wide variety of hand-held props to facilitate dances, the club offered what is known as a “half moon apparatus.”

The half moon apparatus, a crescent shaped bar hanging from the ceiling above the dance floor at Delilah’s, had not been tested with sufficient dancers, according to the lawsuit, and had a sharp edge.  While Berry practiced her performance in advance of the G-string competition, the sharp edge caught her thumb and she fell to the floor.

When she fell, she discovered that her thumb had been nearly completely severed by the edge of the bar, and she required surgery on her thumb.  The half moon apparatus, according to the lawsuit, had been installed by a drywall contractor who had also designed and built the apparatus himself.

Berry is suing Delilah’s for damages totaling $50,000, alleging that her disfigurement and humiliation was the result of negligence on the part of the dance club.

The amount is higher than it might otherwise have been, Berry says, because she is no longer able to work in her chosen profession because of the injury she incurred.  Berry is not a stripper by profession, but instead had entered the open contest because she was an aerialist hoping to use the prize money to fund additional training and performance opportunities.

Berry’s attorney says that Berry, who now works as a photographer, had actually attended classes to help her perform on aerial apparatuses including both in circus acts and stage shows.  Because of the improperly built and installed bar, it is unlikely that Berry will be able to continue as an aerialist without risking significant additional injury to her hand or thumb.

Sources: uscourts.gov, philly.com

Nightmare in New Jersey: Woman Sues After Child Enslavement

A shocking case of child enslavement has emerged in New Jersey, leaving the community in disbelief and raising serious questions about the failure of child protection systems. The case involves a woman who recently filed a lawsuit against an individual accused of enslaving her child for several years. As details of this horrifying situation come to light, it is crucial to examine the circumstances surrounding it and consider the steps necessary to prevent such atrocities from happening again.

The Allegations Unveiled

The lawsuit centers on a woman’s claim that her child was held captive and subjected to abhorrent conditions. It is alleged that the defendant, a trusted family friend, manipulated, controlled, and exploited the child for personal gain over a period of several years. The child endured physical, emotional, and psychological abuse, leaving permanent scars and trauma.

The Failure of Child Protection Systems

This case has brought the spotlight onto our child protection systems, highlighting a significant failure that allowed such a heinous crime to go unnoticed for an extended period of time. Child welfare agencies and school systems are entrusted with the vital responsibility of ensuring the safety and well-being of children. When a child is subjected to enslavement, it raises questions about the effectiveness of these systems in identifying and intervening in cases of extreme abuse.

Seeking Accountability and Justice

The woman’s decision to file a lawsuit serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it allows the victim and their family to seek justice for the unimaginable suffering endured. Secondly, it brings attention to the need for systemic change to prevent similar incidents in the future. By holding the accused accountable through the legal process, the woman hopes to shed light on the failures of the child protection systems involved and advocate for necessary reforms.

The Importance of Strengthening Child Protection Systems

The harrowing nature of this case underscores the urgency of strengthening child protection systems. Various measures can be taken to improve the detection and prevention of child enslavement and other forms of abuse. These include:

1. Increased training and awareness: Professionals working closely with children, such as teachers, healthcare providers, and child welfare workers, must receive regular training on identifying signs of abuse, including those related to child enslavement.

2. Enhanced communication and collaboration: Improved collaboration between child welfare agencies, schools, and law enforcement is essential to ensure that vital information is shared promptly and effectively. Clear lines of communication and protocols for reporting suspicions of abuse can help prevent cases from falling through the cracks.

3. Stringent background checks: Thorough background checks on individuals working with children or having access to them are crucial in preventing potential abusers from obtaining positions of authority or trust.

4. Adequate funding and resources: Child welfare agencies and organizations dedicated to protecting children must receive sufficient funding and resources to fulfill their responsibilities effectively. This includes hiring and retaining skilled professionals, establishing support services for victims of abuse, and implementing regular oversight and evaluation mechanisms.

Conclusion

The lawsuit filed in the wake of the child enslavement case in New Jersey serves as a stark reminder that our child protection systems need significant improvement. It is imperative to amplify efforts to detect and prevent child abuse, including cases of extreme abuse like slavery. Through collective action and comprehensive reforms, we can work towards creating a society in which every child is safeguarded from such nightmarish experiences. A robust and well-functioning child protection network is not only a moral imperative but a fundamental obligation to ensure the safety and well-being of the most vulnerable members of our society.

A woman from Guyana who was brought to the United States at age 14 alleges that her childhood was a nightmare of sexual abuse and sadistic torture—and that police in the New Jersey community of Englewood Cliffs refused to investigate.   Bibi Kahn says that she was tortured for over 10 years by a man and his wife in their home.

Kahn, who was trafficked from her native country of Guyana, was used both as household labor and a sex slave by the couple, who allegedly molested her and took videotape involving acts of sexual sadism.  According to Kahn, at the time when the man in the couple was on his deathbed, he  confessed to his criminal activities and released the videotapes to Kahn.

In 2010, Kahn was arrested for extortion.  According to court documents, an elderly woman—who Kahn says was the woman involved in keeping her in sexual servitude—was blackmailed by Kahn.  Police say that Kahn demanded $500,000 in exchange for not releasing compromising video and audio of the woman’s husband engaged in sexually sadistic acts with the underage immigrant girl.

When taken into custody on extortion charges, Kahn alleged that she had been abused repeatedly by the couple, only to have the Englewood Cliffs Police Department refuse to follow up about the issue.  According to the lawsuit Kahn has filed in federal court against the police department, the couple the police refused to investigate were donors to the policemen’s benevolent association.

Although Kahn claimed she had been sexually mistreated for over a decade and had detailed knowledge of the inside of the house where she alleged the abuses had taken place.  This knowledge included details like specific alarm codes, which could have been followed up on relatively easily, but police did not investigate whether this knowledge was accurate.  Instead, after the woman claimed to never have seen Kahn before the extortion attempt, police simply had Kahn arrested.

Because of these criminal charges, Kahn now faces deportation.  Her lawyer says that Kahn was a victim, rather than a perpetrator, and should not have to return to Guyana, a nation she has not traveled to since she was a young teenager.  She is now suing the Englewood Cliffs police department for damages of $75,000 to compensate for the pain and suffering that was caused by their refusal to investigate her allegations.

Source: uscourts.gov, northjersey.com

The Seattle FBI Sex Discrimination Case: An Overview

The Seattle FBI office is grappling with a recent lawsuit filed by two female agents, which has brought up issues of widespread discrimination against women in the agency. The lawsuit, which was filed in April 2021, alleges that the FBI has failed to provide women with equal opportunities for promotion, has overlooked complaints of sexual harassment and retaliation, and has maintained a culture that is hostile to women.

The Allegations of Sex Discrimination

According to the lawsuit, female agents within the Seattle office have faced numerous obstacles when trying to advance their careers. The plaintiffs allege that male agents were routinely promoted over equally-qualified female agents, and that promotions were often determined through subjective decisions rather than objective and transparent processes.

The plaintiffs also claim that women were subjected to a culture of sexism and harassment, which made them feel unwelcome in the workplace. Some of the allegations include male agents making derogatory comments about women, spreading rumors about female agents, and treating women with disrespect.

The Impact of the Lawsuit

The lawsuit has sent shockwaves through the FBI, as it has exposed the agency’s failure to address issues of sex discrimination and harassment. The agency has long struggled with diversity and inclusivity issues, with women and people of color underrepresented at all levels of the agency.

The Seattle case has prompted a national conversation about the state of women in law enforcement, and has forced the FBI to examine its own practices and policies. It has also led to renewed calls for reform of the agency’s promotion processes and for better training for agents and management on issues of discrimination and harassment.

Reactions within the FBI

The FBI has responded to the lawsuit by acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations and committing to investigating them fully. In a statement, the agency said that it was committed to “creating an inclusive and respectful workplace” and that it would hold individuals accountable for any misconduct.

However, some within the agency have criticized the lawsuit as an attempt to tarnish the FBI’s reputation, and have suggested that the allegations are unfounded. Others have expressed disappointment in the agency’s handling of the case, arguing that it has been too slow to respond to the allegations and that it has failed to take full responsibility for the issues raised.

Conclusion

The Seattle FBI sex discrimination case has brought up a number of important issues regarding the treatment of women in the workplace and the need for greater transparency and accountability in law enforcement agencies. While the lawsuit is ongoing, it has already had a significant impact on the agency and on the national conversation around women’s rights. Hopefully, it will lead to real change within the FBI and in other law enforcement agencies to ensure that women are treated fairly and that discrimination and harassment are not tolerated.

One of the nation’s top FBI agents has alleged that the agency discriminated against her illegally on the basis of her sex.  Special Agent-in-Charge Laura Laughlin, the agent in charge of FBI operations in the Seattle area, has been allowed by a judge to proceed with her case in federal court after suing for violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Before taking her case to court, Laughlin attempted to bring the discriminatory incidents up with her supervisor.  As early as 1997, court documents show that Laughlin had alleged sex based discrimination against her supervisor.  She also said that some special agents had racially and sexually discriminated against a supervisor.

While Laughlin was promoted to being Special Agent-in-Charge, she notes that she has been denied at least ten promotions, and alleges that the reason her promotions were denied was based in sex discrimination and retaliation for her complaints.

According to the complaint, although Laughlin has now worked for the FBI for over 27 years, she is no longer able to find any room for advancement within the organization.  While other Special Agents-in-Charge have unquestioned authority over bureau operations in their area, Laughlin claims that she has had her authority undermined by her superiors.

Typically, the role of Special Agent-in-Charge is one that is only held for a small portion of an FBI Special Agent’s career before they move up in the organization or leave for a lateral transfer in a private organization or other government agency.  However, because of the promotions she has been denied, Laughlin says in court documents that she is now the second longest serving Special Agent in Charge in the entire FBI.

In addition to being denied promotions, Laughlin says that she has been denied requests for additional necessary staff for her office.  She has also faced pressure to resign for more than five years, but says she does not wish to resign from her office.

The federal judge overseeing the case dismissed some of the allegations last week, saying that while Laughlin could sue for sex discrimination, there was insufficient evidence to show that the bureau had also been guilty of age discrimination.  The judge also refused to allow Laughlin to allege that she had suffered from a hostile workplace.  According to court documents, this was because the judge believed  the incidents of sex discrimination to have been relatively isolated and infrequent.  Laughlin may still pursue claims that she was retaliated and discriminated against for being a woman.

Sources: uscourts.gov, seattletimes.com