No Snooze News from Iowa – This weeks PI roundup.

Reporting Can Result in a workers' compensation claim

A Des Moines Register reporter didn't receive such a warm welcome when he was beaten about the head while attempting to retrieve his notebook from a girl who allegedly stole it. The reporter, Daniel P. Finney, 34 was in Evelyn Davis Park attempting to interview people for a story when the girls grabbed his notebook and took off. She ran to a shelter house in the park. When he made his way to the shelter to retrieve it, he was confronted by a man indicating rather forcefully that no notebook was stolen. What happened next isn't really clear but what is clear is that several people punched him in the head causing injury. He drove himself to a local hospital ER, Iowa Methodist Medical Center.

West Liberty, Iowa - Sixteen (16) meatpacking workers were taken to an area hospital after suffering inhalation injury from an anhydrous ammonia leak at a West Liberty plant. The tank is on the roof and according to the report it came into the plant area. Workers were treated for minor to moderate inhalation injury. The leak was caused when a suction header failed allowing 30 gallons or liquid ammonia to fall onto the roof. The value was shut off after approximately 10 minutes. Both reports identified the plant as the West Liberty Foods plant that processes turkeys. I have a pretty detailed post about anhydrous ammonia in the work place.

Des Moines, Iowa - A Des Moines Register reporter didn't receive such a warm welcome when he was beaten about the head while attempting to retrieve his notebook from a girl who allegedly stole it. The reporter, Daniel P. Finney, 34 was in Evelyn Davis Park attempting to interview people for a story when the girls grabbed his notebook and took off. She ran to a shelter house in the park. When he made his way to the shelter to retrieve it, he was confronted by a man indicating rather forcefully that no notebook was stolen. What happened next isn't really clear but what is clear is that several people punched him in the head causing injury. He drove himself to a local hospital ER, Iowa Methodist Medical Center.

Kalona, Iowa - was in the news with the death of 11 members of the Mennonite Community who were driving in a van from Kentucky and involved in a head-on collision while enroute. I did blog about this accident. See Eleven Amish Killed in Head-on Semi-Collision on Kentucky Highway - The Amish Community is again suffering. You will recall the horrific slaughter of Amish school children in 2006 by a milk-truck driver carrying three guns in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania. This weekend eleven members of the Mennonite Community were killed in a Kentucky car accident when a semi-truck crossed over the center line striking their van head-on. They were driving to Kalona, Iowa to attend a wedding. Iowa has a large Mennonite population in and around Kalona.

Cyberspace, Iowa - I wrote in a Q&A format about a question posed to me about employment law. In my opinion the worker needed a lesson in character development. This one gave me pause and then an opportunity to talk about a subject I enjoy - the Participation Trophy Syndrome. See the post titled, After a head-on collision with reality, shame has been pronounced dead. What is shame? Shame is an emotion or an intellectual state or condition. It's that part of a conscience having to do with persuading oneself to do that which is right. Shame keeps us honest. In today's post a question is posed showing a gross display of one lacking shame. The online dictionary defines shame as a painful feeling that arises from our consciousness of doing something dishonorable, improper and ridiculous. Shame is about disgrace or at a minimum regret. A person without shame is one whose character is lacking. In this instance, it's really lacking.

Des Moines, Iowa - Drake University Campus - What caused the gas odor at Drake University?

One woman was treated and the Olmsed Center on campus was evacuated after a battery backup system for electrical equipment is said to have overheated causing a rotten egg smell from sulfuric acid. The Hubbell building, another building in the neighborhood was closed for the same odor issue. Because it happened in two different buildings I'm not so sure I can believe the explanation.

Cyberspace, Iowa - Annie Oakley-Runyan (Director of Business Development) from the Dickinson Law Firm wrote to me about the post cataloging Iowa lawyer blawgs and pointed out a few more places where you can read about Iowa law. I added an update to the post list. See A Roundup about Legal Blawgs with an Iowa Connection. The update is at the bottom. BTW, I wonder if her parents had a fondness for the cowgirl, Annie Oakley. For those of you not familiar with Ms. Oakley from the Wild West here is a YouTube video clip. Annie Oakley came from Ohio to become a part of the Wild West Show put on by Buffalo Bill Cody. Her photo is at 1:03 into this clip. She was sharp shooter who could hit one, two or three glass balls into the air, grab a shotgun and hit them before they reached the ground. Perhaps the Dickinson Law Firm has missed it's greatest marketing idea. Look at Annie shooting a target by using a mirror to aim at the card being held by someone behind her. "At Dickinson, we aim to protect your legal interests by looking in the rear view mirror. Trust me, unless it's in your best interest, we never miss."

Maybe Annie Oakley should be the symbol for Iowa's female law students, like those of OWLSS. A woman can shoot as well as any man. The OWLSS is a group from the University of Iowa College of Law. Organization for Women Law Students and Staff.  As described on the law school website, OWLSS is the Organization of Women Law Students and Staff was founded at the University of Iowa College of Law on September 21, 1973.  We are a dynamic and fun organization that accepts both men and women and works to further the development of women in the law and the law school. Contact OWLSS at law-owlss@uiowa.edu and we will ensure you are part of our listserv. Their mission is study the changing needs and problems of women in the legal profession, and develop, recommend and implement new programs with particular emphasis upon the needs of women at the University of Iowa College of Law.

West Des Moines, Iowa - After reading the Iowa Blawg Roundup, fellow lawyer Barb Diment wrote asking a few questions about the ethics of some of the practices being employed by Iowa lawyers in their legal marketing programs. That one will take some time to research and will be the subject of a later post. Barb doesn't have a blawg but perhaps she'll write a guest piece for me to post.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa - A young man, 23, who was walking in the parking lot at the Wal-Mart store, was run down from behind by an 85-year-old driver. For 18 minutes her car rested in the man's neck. It took rescue workers to lift and remove the injured man. The man later died. Accidents like this one once again raise the question about an age limit for drivers. There have been several posts on the InjuryBoard about the issue of old-age related car accident rates.

How much does age factor in to car accidents? | InjuryBoard ...

... How much does age factor in to car accidents? ... objects such as stop signs and speed limit postings harder ... To keep elderly drivers in your family safe, watch out ... 92k

One Teen Killed in Fredericksburg Crash | InjuryBoard San Antonio

... approximately twice the rate of 85 year old drivers. ... months of intermediate license (afterward, limit the number ... teenage passengers to two until age 18); must ... 101k

Are elderly drivers to blame for car accidents resulting in ...

... are also on the rise as the baby boomers age. ... objects such as stop signs and speed limit postings harder ... To keep elderly drivers in your family safe, watch out ... 97k

Clive, Iowa - Two mailboxes exploded after homemade bombs that used a 2-liter bottle and household chemicals reacted. No one was injured. The police described the devices as "works bombs".

Polk County, Iowa - A Polk County Conservation Board workshop on making rain barrels was called off midway through the program when it was determined the donated barrels may have had toxic substances stored in them before being received. The barrels came from a printing plant. One of the barrels was labeled acrylic acid.

Ames, Iowa - The young man who's been missing since January 22, 2010. He is 21-year-old Jonathan Lacina from Grinnell, Iowa. Authorities searched Lake LaVerne this past Saturday thinking the thawed ice would make the search fruitful. It didn't. Lacina's parents have offered a $10,000 reward for tips that could lead to their son. Anyone with information should call ISU police at (515) 294-4428. You can find more information on how you can help by visiting his Facebook webpage: Help find Jon Lacina. It has 24,175 members.

Taylor County, Southwest Rural, Iowa - A man survived six days by drinking ditch water after becoming stranded on a dirt road in rural Taylor County. Nathan Nickle, a Clearfield farmer is credited with saving the stranded disabled man's life.

There's more but from point of view what's above is enough of the more serious cases involving accidental injury in Iowa. If you enjoy this blog let me know and if you have questions contact us at 515-222-1110 or sdlombardi@aol.com. Steve writes for several blawgs/blogs including the one on the Lombardi Law Firm website. Although Steve readily admits to hating the way the Verdict is set up and will soon take it off the site as an independent site for Iowa PI news and advice.