SportsBlogs Nation Member in Olympia Needs Help

by RSNexile on Jun 13, 2006 12:43 PM PDT Comment 16 comments

Let me apologize in advance for this diary. I didn't see anything about this story here, and I thought you good folks might be better able to help than I.

Some of you may be aware by now that SBNation's tech guy, Jeremy, a resident of Olympia, was lucky enough not to be home a couple days ago when a drunk driver plowed his truck into Jeremy's home. Had he been home, it is very likely he and his infant daughter could have been killed.

Now Jeremy needs our help.

It seems that he had no renter's insurance and the driver's car insurance may be minimal -- almost certainly not enough to cover all the damage. So Jeremy is now asking for help in finding a lawyer. He's in Olympia, so my guess is someone on this site may be better equipped to help him than all the people on the other boards who are discussing this. If any of you can help or know someone who can help, please contact him at jbingham at gmail dot com.

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Pictures are posted on other SBNation sites

See here and here.

by RSNexile on Jun 13, 2006 12:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

More pictures

Here

by RSNexile on Jun 13, 2006 12:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Lawyer

Try Harold Carr (360) 455-0030)...he is good.

Show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser period, someone who didn't try hard enough - Ted Williams

by Dollar97 on Jun 13, 2006 1:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

I'll pass on the name.

by RSNexile on Jun 13, 2006 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Carr

He did an excellent job and I would recommend him to anyone needing a great lawyer....most lawyers...well...he isn't the one in the lawyer jokes....we'll leave it at that.

Show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser period, someone who didn't try hard enough - Ted Williams

by Dollar97 on Jun 13, 2006 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope they take this guy's license away...

and lock him up through his prime 20's. Thank God that he wasn't home, but drunk drivers piss me off more than anything else because it is such an easy situation to avoid, but people so goddamn stubborn that they can't leave their car behind and have someone else taken them home. Throw the book at this guy.

by basebliman on Jun 13, 2006 2:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Worse yet...

...he's 20 (i.e., underaged), his MySpace profile reveals that getting drunk is one of his favorite pastimes, and the car may not even be his. Over at dKos, they're reporting that GEICO has said that because the car in insured in someone else's name, they won't pay for anything.

Beyond that, it seems that the MySpace profile has been edited since the accident to mock Jeremy, after Kos posted a link to it.

by RSNexile on Jun 13, 2006 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh...

I went to high school about half a block from that intersection. I can picture the house, the way the road is at a slight but gradual incline leading up to the intersection, and frankly, it's amazing that the guy driving the truck wasn't killed.

It seems like West Olympia has a huge problem with drunks ramming their cars into houses. It's happened to two of my friends who live within four blocks of this house.

by acblue on Jun 13, 2006 2:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The Bar

Do we know where this assbag was drinking before the accident?

Capital High alum here too. I'm thankful that he wasn't at home either. That could have been really REALLY bad.

by Colby In Boston on Jun 13, 2006 6:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Edgar for Pres...

...you have any ideas?

I've lived here in Oly for nearly a decade, but the only attorneys I vaguely know are AG-types. He might want to contact the Attorney General's office for advice. Certainly he's getting a lot of comments with advice on his threads. I'm not a KOS member, or I'd throw that suggestion out there.

Free George Sherrill. And Dan Rohn.

by PositivePaul on Jun 13, 2006 2:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I don't really know

of anybody. I'm only 21 and haven't really needed any lawyers. My family really hasn't either. I'll keep my ears out because I actually just got back from UW but I'll be leaving for an internship soon. I'll ask my law roommate and see what he says.

I'm not quite sure what you want the lawyer for. I'm guessing for all the damaged property you had since I'm assuming that the house wall is the landlord's problem but I could be wrong.

Since this guy is military, it should be easier because somebody already has his balls in a vise-grip. I think you might be able to file a Article 139 Claim against the guy. I think this basically makes the guy pay your damages. It sounds easier and cheaper than going to court too but I'm not quite sure and you might still want a lawyer. It shouldn't be too hard to get money from the guy since its pretty clear that he drove a car through your home.

139 CLAIM - If a soldier deliberately damages or destroys your property, you are entitled to compensation directly from the soldier. Article 139, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), provides an easy, effective way for victims of deliberate misconduct to obtain compensation for the losses.

http://www.jagcnet.army.mil/JAGCNETInternet/Homepages/AC/Legal%20Assistance%20Home%20Page.nsf/626e60 35eadbb4cd85256499006b15a6/a66ed7f64ee8813e852569f300105bf7?OpenDocument

by Edgar for Pres on Jun 13, 2006 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My wife and I

have a home based business, where we can set people up with a good lawfirm in their home state. The program is called Pre-paid Legal. The lawfirm in Washington is Lombino Martino, P.S. The plan is only $26.95/month and also includes the Identity Theft Shield.

If interested or for more information, you can go to www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/sherrills

by elsid on Jun 13, 2006 4:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow. That's awful.

Just reading about this makes me really sad. A truck plowing into your house just isn't the sort of thing anyone ever expects. I'm glad Jeremy and his family are okay, but man, that sucks.

I wonder if Habitat for Humanity works on cases like this... though I guess building new houses is a bit different than fixing an existing one. Still seems like maybe he could qualify for housing assistance after something like this if the insurance doesn't come through.

Marinerds - a different daily dose of baseblog.

by Deanna on Jun 13, 2006 4:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Why won't....

The owner's home owner's insurance do something? If not them, the owner himself? It's his investment.

by PLU Tim on Jun 14, 2006 8:27 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Homeowner's insurance...

AFAIK:

1) Covers damage to the home, the property, and any structures (fences, sheds, etc...) -- for the policy holder only. The house/duplex will be fixed under the homeowner's insurance policy.

Obviously the renters are not going to be responsible for the damages to the house in this case. The driver ultimately is, but the homeowner's insurance will cover the house damage (and likely sue the driver to recover its expenses).

2) Covers personal property damages for the policy holder only. If the homeowner had things in there that needed to be replaced, the homeowner's insurance would replace 'em.

Since the property owner isn't occupying the place, the insurance wouldn't cover the personal property damage of the folks who are renting the joint.

All the more reason why it's very, very important to carry renter's insurance -- especially if you live in an apartment and/or have a lot of stuff (i.e. computers, electronics, art, etc...) that's expensive to replace. You may be a cautious and careful person, but you can't ensure those around you are.

It's really only like $15-20 a month at the most.

Free George Sherrill. And Dan Rohn.

by PositivePaul on Jun 14, 2006 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

On the other hand

if you're broke and don't have valuable stuff, it probably isn't worth it to get renter's insurance. I'd say all my belongings when I'm up at school are probably worth less than $2500 so paying $200 a year for renters insurance doesn't make much sense.

by Edgar for Pres on Jun 14, 2006 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs