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The GUNNY'S SACK

APRIL 2008

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.

NEWSBITS ‘N’ PIECES:

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 namillennium 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.

Keep the round side on the bottom.
Gunny, Oregon AIM Chief of Staff