DOCUMENT: Crime

"Hold Your Wee For A Wii" Lawsuit

Family: Sadistic radio contest caused wrongful death of mom

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"Hold Your Wee For A Wii" Lawsuit

JANUARY 25--The family of the California woman who died from water intoxication after trying to win a video game console in a radio station stunt has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the architects of the 'Hold Your Wee for a Wii' contest. Jennifer Strange, a 28-year-old mother of three, died on January 12 after drinking almost two gallons of water while taking part in a giveaway contest sponsored by Sacramento's KDND-FM. The contest awarded a Nintendo console to the person who could avoid urinating (or vomiting) after drinking a large quantity of water. Strange finished second among 18 contestants, and complained that her head hurt and she felt lightheaded when dropping out of the contest. Hours later, she died of water intoxication, according to the Sacramento County coroner. The wrongful death lawsuit, a copy of which you'll find below, names the radio station's owner and eight individuals as defendants. The complaint, which does not specify monetary damages, include a number of on-air statements made by radio station personnel, including one DJ who noted that they should have 'researched' water intoxication before conducting the contest. Also, when a caller who identified herself as a nurse warned that contestants could face illness or death, an on-air personality replied, 'Yeah, they signed releases so we're not responsible so it's okay.' Strange (pictured above in a family portrait) was awarded two tickets to a Justin Timberlake concert as a consolation prize. (10 pages)