Empire state building base jumper caught by security staff

[kellyhound]

January 16, 2008 -- Dumb judges beget dumb lawsuits.

The dumb jurist du jour is state Su preme Court Justice Michael Ambrecht, who last January threw out reckless-endangerment charges against moron parachutist Jeb Corliss.

Because no specific law prohibits parachuting from the Empire State Building - and because Corliss was a trained jumper - he did nothing illegal in trying the stunt in April 2006, Ambrecht ruled.

Never mind that Corliss could've seriously injured someone on the ground (or worse) had his parachute failed. Or that he could have landed in the middle of traffic. Or . . . the list could go on.

It's called reckless endangerment - and it's a broad charge for a reason.

As it was, Corliss did injure one security officer as he fought with guards who subdued him seconds before his jump.

Not that that mattered to Ambrecht, whose ruling opened the door for countless potential copycats.

And now, it appears, a lawsuit.

Corliss filed a $30 million claim against the Empire State Building yesterday, arguing that the guards who prevented his jump not only caused him "severe emotional distress" but endangered his life as well. And why not - if, as Ambrecht ruled, Corliss was completely within his rights to try the stunt?

Fortunately, common sense may yet win out. A four-judge appeals panel last week heard arguments from the Manhattan DA's office urging it to reinstate the charges against Corliss.

Here's hoping it does.

Corliss' recklessness should earn him 30 days in Rikers, not a litigation jackpot.

And, in justice, Judge Ambrecht should be sitting right beside him. Sad to say, stupidity isn't a crime.

[Worrymon]

Not only that, but the Empire State Building is a private building. They have rules. One of them is 'don't jump'. Their security was enforcing their rules.

If this guy actually is allowed to sue the building, then I think every tenant in the building should eb allowed to sue him for emotional distress. I used to work in the ESB, and do you know how traumatic it is to even hear that a body just went past you at 120 mph? (There were a few jumpers/attempted jumpers while I worked there)

[mainetc]

Yep... terminal velocity is 120 mph (link)

[Worrymon]

Originally Posted by mainetc

Yep... terminal velocity is 120 mph (link)

Yep, I was there 4 times

[mainetc]

military? or civilian?

[Soar]

Originally Posted by Worrymon

do you know how traumatic it is to even hear that a body just went past you at 120 mph? (There were a few jumpers/attempted jumpers while I worked there)

What a horrible thought. I couldn't imagine hearing/witnessing that.

[Baldy]

,,these guys are well prepared if they jump in citys ,so i can`t see a problem here life is to short for not having some fun...:banana_sml:

If this guy actually is allowed to sue the building, then I think every tenant in the building should eb allowed to sue him for emotional distress. I used to work in the ESB, and do you know how traumatic it is to even hear that a body just went past you at 120 mph? (There were a few jumpers/attempted jumpers while I worked there)

..i agree with Worrymon here

[Worrymon]

Originally Posted by mainetc

military? or civilian?

Civilian, so I had to pay for it, instead of collecting a salary.

Civilian, so I am crazy on my own, instead of someone telling me to be.

Civilian, because I have a big problem with authority figures, so I knew better than to sign up and end up in a brig after defying orders...

Originally Posted by Baldy

,,these guys are well prepared if they jump in citys

Yeah, the problem is, sitting in an office, you don't know who was prepared and who was the psycho who dodged past security, climbed through a window (yes, the building is so old that the windows open), jumped, and is going to end up on the ledge on 70 right under your window. Or on the 6th floor, only to be discovered later. Or to have a body part detach and land on the sidewalk, while you end up on 30. (I was working in the building in 2004 when there was a jumper...)

If there was some way to keep them from causing problems with other people, I'd say let them jump! Organize a charity event and have them close a street, get some sponsors and bring in people to jump. There's a race up the building every year (the ESB Run-Up), why not have an annual ESB Jump-Down?

[Baldy]

Originally Posted by Worrymon

There's a race up the building every year (the ESB Run-Up), why not have an annual ESB Jump-Down?

New York, February 6, 2007—Thomas Dold of Germany defended his title at the NYRR Empire State Building Run-Up with gusto today, yelling and swiping at the tape as he crossed the finish line in 10 minutes, 25 seconds, on the Observation Deck of New York’s tallest building. On the women’s side, Australian Suzy Walsham upset the favorite, Cindy Moll-Harris of Indianapolis, to win her first Run-Up—and only the second tower climb of her career—in 13:12. A total of 201 people finished the 30th annual Run-Up, an event record.