Jumper Was Prevented From Completing The Attempt

A lawsuit over a 2006 BASE jumping attempt at the Empire State Building which was thwarted by local authorities is near settlement, according to lawyers from both sides.

Jeb Corlis was sued by the owners of the building for an attempt to BASE jump from the building. BASE is an acronym skydivers use for "Building, Antenna, Span, Earth." Corlis, who lives in California, has reportedly completed over 1,000 jumps from structures and cliffs. He had made it to the 86th floor observation deck of the Empire State building and outside the security fence when he was stopped from jumping. Police reached through the fence and prevented him from completing the stunt. He was eventually convicted of reckless endangerment, and received a sentence of three years probation and 100 hours of community service.

But he was also sued by the building's owners for $12 million, who said he harmed business while the building was shut down. Now, the Associated Press reports that his lawyers, Thomas Keltner and David Tannenbaum, say that a settlement is eminent. Corliss had said that he had suffered emotional distress over the way the incident was handled. He had been employed as the host of "Stunt Junkies" on the Discovery Channel until his arrest, when the network severed it's relationship with him.

Details of the agreement have not been disclosed. Corliss still contends that BASE jumping should be a right. He told a jury during his trial that he doesn't think "there's anything wrong with what I do."

FMI: www.esbnyc.com