For all the uninformed parents out there that think festivals are responsible for your angel, you send off to festivals, lets get one thing straight. NO ONE is responsible for your delinquent children except you. If they do drugs, its at their own risk, plain and simple. If they have a bad reaction its not on the medical staff or the festival's responsibility. They provide medical tents to try and help people and provide as much help as they can, not to guarantee a revival from shooting an amalgamation of drugs that would make even charlie sheen blush and say "I wouldn't even touch that".
(TimesUnion) The mother of a comatose Schenectady woman has filed a notice of claim on her daughter's behalf against organizers of the hugely popular Camp Bisco summer music festival and the town of Duanesburg, where it was held.
Heather Bynum was with friends at the festival at Indian Lookout Country Club shortly before 5 p.m. July 12 when she suffered a "bad reaction to a bad drug," according to attorney Paul Wein of the Guilderland law firm representing Bynum in the claim.
Filed in state Supreme Court in Schenectady County, the claim for personal injuries and pain and suffering contends "medical (staff) was slow to respond and failed to provide appropriate and/or timely care" and that Bynum's injuries were caused by the "negligence, recklessness" and "carelessness" because of the lack of care she received.
Wein was unsure how much time elapsed between Bynum's adverse reaction to the drug and when she received medical attention, but he said her condition had worsened by the time she was transported in a golf cart to a waiting ambulance.
"This was foreseeable and they took no steps to prepare for it and head it off at the pass," said Wein.
He and his law partner, Cynthia LaFave, said organizers should have been prepared for medical emergencies because of the history of drug use among Camp Bisco revelers.
Chad Shearer, who handles public relations for Camp Bisco, said Tuesday he would contact the promoter, who Shearer later said did not immediately call him back.
LaFave said Bynum, who is a patient at Ellis Hospital, is a quadriplegic, has minimal consciousness, can't speak and only recently starting breathing on her own.
"Her care for the rest of her life will be astronomical," said LaFave. "If they are going to have these big functions with all these people, they are responsible for providing medical assistance to people there."
The claim, which was filed both in state Supreme Court and the Court of Claims, also names the Duanesburg Planning Board, Duanesburg Town Board, Schenectady County Public Health and Schenectady County as defendants. A notice of claim is a precursor to a lawsuit.
"She ended up not being taken care of in a timely manner," said LaFave
Schenectady County Attorney Chris Gardner declined comment, saying the county had not yet been served with the claim. Duanesburg Supervisor Rene Merrihew did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
The incident occurred a day after a 29-year-old New Jersey man was found dead in his tent after an apparent drug overdose at the Camp Bisco festival from July 12 to 14. State troopers have said they found Xanax and hydrocodone inside his tent, along with some marijuana.
Bynum's mother, Deborah Bynum, also names the state in a notice of intention to file a claim in state Court of Claims.
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