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Attorney Michelle M. Quinn, a principal in the law firm of Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn and spokeswoman for HKQ Kids, has been appointed to the Pennsylvania Joint State Commission’s Advisory Committee for Child Safety.

Attorney Quinn was appointed to the Advisory Committee by Rep. John Yudichak of Nanticoke as a result of her work with HKQ Kids, the Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn Foundation for Children’s Advocacy. The 10-member Committee includes citizens from around the state, including five doctors, a judge and another attorney. The Committee will advise The Katie Elise Lambert Task Force on Child Safety, which is made up of eight members of the Pennsylvania House and Senate.

“I am truly honored by this appointment,” Attorney Quinn said. “As a lawyer, I have seen too many children needlessly injured or killed by situations or conditions that could have been prevented. This Task Force represents a big step toward making sure Pennsylvania kids stay safe. I applaud Rep. Yudichak and others in the General Assembly for taking a lead on this important issue.”

In addition to her work as a trial lawyer representing seriously injured people, Attorney Quinn serves as spokeswoman for HKQ Kids, a non-profit foundation established in 2005 by her law firm to promote education and public awareness of issues affecting the safety of children in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

The National Center for Health Statistics places unintentional injury as the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 1 and 35, causing an estimated 91,000 deaths a year, according to the House resolution establishing the Task Force and Advisory Committee. Unintentional injuries are responsible for more child deaths each year than homicide, suicide, congenital anomalies, cancer, heart disease, respiratory illness and HIV combined.

The Task Force and Advisory Committee were established in the memory of Katie Elise Lambert, an Abington, Pa., toddler who was killed in January 2005 when an unanchored wardrobe cabinet fell on top of her. According to the House Resolution, the Task Force is charged with issuing a report that includes:

• Statistics outlining the primary causes of unintentional injury-related deaths and disabilities to children.
• Individual behaviors and practices that can reduce the risk of childhood injuries and make others aware of possible injury hazards in the home.
• Recommendations to raise the awareness to parents and other concerned citizens of the looming threat of unintentional injuries to their children.
• Suggestions pediatricians and other health-care providers can provide to patients during routine health visits regarding safety practices in their homes to prevent unintentional injuries.
• Information on the cost-effectiveness of strategies to reduce injuries to children to better inform public debate on the merits of these interventions.
• Feasibility of laws making it mandatory that warning labels be applied to all assembled and ready-to-assemble furniture.

Headquartered in Kingston with offices in Scranton, Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn specializes in personal-injury litigation and offers comprehensive legal services to business and individuals.