The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 15

The Cincinnati Enquirkr METRO WE Tuesday, November 9, 1999 B5, III Disabled stagehand wins 2nd time against union VETERAN IRS AGENTS TAX PROFESSIONALS Nation 's Largest Most Exerienced Tax Problem Resolution Firm! FREE Consultation or FREE Special Report 800-925-9609 www.jkharris.com JK HARRIS COMPANY Cinnnnwi, Ohio AND 35 OFFICES TROUGHOUT OHIO union refused to refer him for jobs even though medical evidence indicated he could work if his disabilities were reasonably accommodated. Union witnesses cited medical reports that indicated Mr. Ropp could not handle available assignments safely. Those involved climbing ladders, working on catwalks and working in the dark, union attorney Thomas Korbee said, and the union could1 not responsibly refer him for such jobs. Local 5 represents stage employees for productions at the Aronoff Center, Riverbend, Firstar Center and other venues.

In the meantime, Mr. Ropp has taken a job with the Postal Service. 1 tMF prrr--ii affirmed the verdict and awarded $51,565 to Mr. Popp's trial attorney, Peter A. Burr.

Mr. Burr said the verdict was the only one he knew of against a union hiring hall under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Mr. Ropp fell while climbing a mountain in the former Soviet Union in 1988. He told jurors that the ees, Cincinnati Stage Employees Local No.

5 for not referring him to jobs after a mountain-climbing injury left him with balance and speech problems. The union challenged the July 1998 jury verdict, asking Magistrate Judge Jack Sherman Jr. to overturn it or grant a new trial. Last week, Magistrate Sherman BY BEN L. KAUFMAN The Cincinnati Enquirer A federal magistrate has rejected challenges to a theater technician's $73,810 discrimination verdict against his union.

P. Alan Ropp, 43, of Anderson Township sued the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employ Kings Island's 'Drop Zone' ride safer vL JwA PROTECT Tj YOUR TABLE WIWyANDCRAFTEC jpUSTOM PADi OR JUST pOV.V5 ORDER NOW FOR HOLIDAY jS DELIVERY possibility that something as rare, coincidental and anomalous as what happened in California will not happen at Kings Island," park spokesman Jeffrey Siebert said. He said the restraints will be in place by the start of next season; Drop Zone is expected to reopen with the park April 15. An investigation by the Santa Clara District Attorney's Office found no evidence of a mechanical or operator error in the incident in which Joshua Smurphat died after he fell from the ride. A team of theme park ride and iM 11 ww BY KEVIN ALDRIDGE The Cincinnati Enqairer MASON Paramount's Kings Island is taking steps to improve the safety of one of its newest and most popular attractions.

Park officials Monday announced plans to make safety modifications to the Drop Zone Stunt Tower, one of two multimillion-dollar rides the park opened in 1999. Officials closed the Drop Zone, the world's tallest gyro drop, Aug. 22 after a child was killed the day before when he fell from a similar ride at Paramount's Great America in Santa Clara, Calif. The 315-foot-tall tower remained closed at Kings Island as a precaution through the end of the season, Oct. 31.

After consulting with manufacturer Intamin Inc. of Zurich, Switzerland, park officials decided to add short restraint belts to connect the over-the-head shoulder harnesses to each seat. "By adding these safety restraints, we hope to further eliminate the safety experts and independent investi- gators reviewed all possible factors and I jU) 1 lw 1 Enquirer file photo Am 'Sland Cl0Sed the DrP Zone Stunt Tower on Aug. 22, but plans to reopen it April 15 with new safety features. causes and concluded the salety harness was in a down and locked position and that the ride was operating properly at the time of the accident.

Industry analysts contend amusement park and attraction rides are among the safest forms of recreation available. They point to statistics that show six times as many people go to the hospital for garden-hose accidents than from thrill-ride mishaps. The U.S. Consumer Product Safe- UCl ty Commission estimates that ot JUU pane rides nave averageu million visits in 1998 to amusement year over the past two decades, according to the safety commission. More than 400,000 guests have safely ridden Drop Zone since it opened in May.

parks across the country, 4,500 injuries involving rides were reported; of those, 36 required hospitalization. Fatalities' related to amusement GOP: Group backs anti-abortion candidates This Week Only Handcrafted Table Pads for just $69.95 Take advantage of big savings on top quality U.S.-handcrafted table pads. Custom pads in rich vinyl leatherette woodgrains and solids, available bases in flannel, duravel, and new Athena Suede. Pads from $69.95 leaves from $28. Guaranteed speedy delivery.

We'll come out and measure for free, so call now for your immediate appointment. CO CK VL can Dale Van Vyven, where first-time candidate Jim Raussen of Springdale has been endorsed. 33rd District, held by Democrat Jerome Luebbers, where Tony Con-dia, director of governmental relations at the Home Builders Association of Greater Cincinnati, has the endorsement. 34th District, held by Republican Cheryl Winkler, where Mr. Seitz is the preferred candidate.

37th District, held by Republican Jacqueline O'Brien, where Mr. Brinkman, who heads COAST, has the endorsement. CONTINUED FROM PAGE Bl cinnati Political Action Committee (PAC); Family First PAC; Ohio Family Association PAC; Equal Rights, Not Special Rights PAC; and the Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes (COAST). Mr. Langdon said the organizations represent "a substantial number of the people who vote in Republican primaries.

We hope the party leadership will recognize that." The alliance has endorsed candidates in four of the five Ohio House districts: 32nd District, held by Republi The Alliance has yet to endorse in the 36th District, now held by Republican Robert Schuler, and has invited several potential candidates to tonight's rally. All the Alliance's endorsed candidates plan to seek the party endorsement, but Mr. Langdon said if then group's candidates are not endorsed, "there very well could be some primary contests." All the candidates for the party endorsements were asked to fill out a questionnaire that gives the candidates a choice of four of seven issues on which to outline their positions. Candidates are given the option of saying whether they support or oppose Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that made abortions legal; the use of tax money for organizations that prom'ote abortion; and late-term abortions.

But candidates can choose not to answer the abortion question. The other issue options for candidates include "right to work" legislation, tort reform, tax policy, school funding, health care reform and air quality standards. TM Table Pads by SuftvUox fill 1 si- "-) 1 f(f I 1 uVf '11 1 SiWsW" 1 tiA, TpTTT CinciHow.com ys ibiikv.