Straylight Run will be headlining an upcoming benefit for Nick Lamagna. Nick was seriously injured due to a workplace accident caused by an improperly maintained machine and has been unable to recieve any compensation to cover his medical bills or even his living expenses. The event will take place on July 27th, and while Straylight Run is the first band confirmed and is expected to headline, other performers are expected shortly. The show will take place at Patchogue, Long Island in The Patchogue Theatre and the band promises that
[We] will no doubt be stepping it up a notch, and pulling out all the stops. We've even got a few small surprises up our sleeves. This show will be a bigger spectacle, and done on a much grander scale then anyone would ever expect to see from Straylight Run.
On Monday, January 31st one of my best friends in the world; Nick Lamagna was involved in a very tragic accident while at work. While cleaning out an industrial box cutter, the machine slipped and came crashing down on his left hand injuring it severely. He lost over a pint of blood almost instantly. He was rushed to South Nassau Community Hospital's emergency room then transfered to the Nassau County Medical Center an hour later.
Nick was given two blood transfusions, but the surgeons were forced to stop operating because of the risk of death was becoming too great. During the past four months Nick has gone through three additional surgeries but will need many more. Even then it's unlikely that his hand will ever be fully functional again.
The machine Nick was working on was not maintained, updated, or properly equipped with standard safeties. The comapny liable for the machine has since gone out of business. Worse yet, the company that bought the machine makers liabilities and assests are nowhere to be found. Nick has filed a product liability lawsuit and has a hell of a case against them. However, if Nick's lawyers are unable to find anyone to sue, Nick is royally screwed. If the lawyers are able to eventually track someone down and they are able to win the suit, it could be a minimum of three years before Nick even sees a penny.
Currently Nick is receiving worker's comp aid and disability pay. Unfortunately disability pay runs out soon and the worker's comp aid is not even enough to cover regular weekly expenses, let alone all the past and future surgeries. Due to the injury and upcoming surgeries, Nick isn't able to work either.
When I first heard what had happened I physically felt sick. Nick is a real active guy who likes to life weights, enjoys boxing and is also an accomplished guitar player. The thought of him not being able to enjoy these simple pleasures in life devestates me. Luckily, Nick is a fighter and one of the toughest guys I know. He's already figured out ways to get back into a lot of things he loves only using his good hand. He even has started to teach himself how to play guitar lefty. Nick and I have been very close friends since we were both six years old. We've been through a lot together, but nothing of this magnitude. I wanted to do anything I could to help out so this is what I've come up with.
On July 27th, 2005, we will play a benefit for Nick. We found this beautiful building in Patchogue, Long Island appropriately called The Patchogue Theatre where we will no doubt be stepping it up a notch and pulling out all the stops. We've even got a few small surprises up our sleeves. This show will be a bigger spectacle and done on a much grander scale than anyone would ever expect to see from Straylight Run.
We are all extremely excited to be able to do this, but we can't do it alone. We need all of you to come out and rock out at this very special, very important show. Hope to see you there.