Knifemaking and idiot-lawsuits.

jeegeet

jeegeet

Joined
Jan 2, 2000
Messages
356
The Sharpmaker 204 manual contains this "Caution: Sharpening is an inherently dangerous activity." warning on almost half of pages. I find it quite annoying. I'd think that mentioning once would be more than enough!

MT puts "Caution: sharp edge" on their boxes. Doh!
redface.gif
. I'd be angry if a new knife WASN'T sharp.
smile.gif


BM's boxes say: "Handle with care ... knives are packaged sharp" or something like that.

I am generally getting annoyed of warning about an obvious things. I am aware they have to do that in todays reality but still ...

Have you actually heard of knifemakers being sued by morons that cut themselves with their knives?

Kris
 
Chris Reeve Knives includes a note that says;

CAUTION
All knives leaving our workshop are VERY sharp and should be treated with due care.
Click to expand...

Considering the number of people that have picked up one of my knives and proceeded to cut their thumbs up finding this out, it seems like a good idea.


------------------
James Segura
San Francisco, CA
 
I always warn people when they handle my knives. And I could distinguish two categories: those that listen but they wouldn't need any warning to be cautious and those that cut themselves regardless of the warning
smile.gif
.

I just hope those warnings will not ever end up on the blades. Sounds kind of remote right now, but look around and see how often are we warned about the obvious.


K.
 
Let's hope the warnings never wind up on the blades. The following adorns the barrel of my Mannlicher stock Ruger #1...

"Before using gun - read warnings in instruction manual available free from..."
Click to expand...


------------------
Cheers,

--+Brian+--

He who finishes with the most toys wins.
 
Jeegeet - Yes, it is unfortunately necessary and yes, people do sue knife companies when they cut themselves.

you are a custom maker and so not perceived as a good source of revenue in a lawsuit. But if you were to be sued, you would have to come up with many thousands of dollars in legal fees to defend yourself BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEFEND YOURSELF!

The disclaimers are necessary.

sal
 
The scary thing is that these disclaimers may not even be enough to insulate one from liability to, as you put it, idiots.
 
With things like this I generally look at this as a source of amusement and not anything else as it is just sad that people are that ignorant and/or stupid that they have to be so warned and that this is supported by law.

As an example, one of my recent favorites was the directions on a cough drop which included "dissolve slowly in mouth". It was the "in mouth" part that got me, how out of it do you have to be to not know that was implied and try to dissolve it somewhere else.

-Cliff
 
Originally posted by Sal Glesser:
Jeegeet - Yes, it is unfortunately necessary and yes, people do sue knife companies when they cut themselves.
Click to expand...

Sal, I'm not a maker (yet)
smile.gif
.

I completely understand they need to put these disclaimers. So when I see them I am pissed at the stupid legal system that forces that and not even a little at the makers
smile.gif
.

Kris
 
Hey, Preparation-H has a warning on it: "do not consume orally" Not that I use it, just what I hear.
 
Take a look around your home at the warning labels on various household products. There'll find quite a few where you'll ask, "what kind of idiot would do something that stupid?" My bet is that the manufacturer can provide a list of names in each and every case.

------------------
Dave

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of More Knives
 
i.e.- Toaster do not use in the shower.
smile.gif
smile.gif
smile.gif



------------------
Outside of a dog, a Knife is man's best friend. Inside a dog it is very, very Dark.
 
A few years ago I bought a ladder covered in safety stickers.The same day I fell off of it.One E.R. visit and $500 later I did what I always do in these situations,I hurt for a couple of days and then went about my business.I have read that 50% of the cost of a ladder is to cover liability suits.What ever happened to right of contract?I would sign anything to get ladders (or sebenzas)50% off.
 
I agree that our legal system is in need of reform. While I am a lawyer, I am not a personal-injury lawyer. However, I would like to make an observation. Whenever some idiot files a lawsuit after injuring himself in a ridiculous manner, it's always the attorneys that get the public scorn. I, personally, place the blame on juries. If juries weren't awarding these fools damages, I guarantee you the lawyers wouldn't be filing the suits.
smile.gif
 
I guarantee that if lawyers didn't file these idiot lawsuits, juries wouldn't be making these ridiculous awards. The lay person does not initiate the lawsuit, the attorney does.

------------------
Jerry Hossom
knifemaker
www.hossom.com


 
A caution sign and verbal warning isn't good enough for some people. I had a guy come into my shop looking for a large serrated folder. I proceeded to show him a cold steel Varquero. As I handed him the knife I said "be careful it's very sharp". He gave me the look
rolleyes.gif
(I know what I'm doing). He then proceeded to run his thumb down the serrated edge opening up his thumb. I looked at him in disblief :eek and he looked at me all bugeyed,put the knife on the counter and ran out the door. I put the knife away and went out to give him a hand but he had already gone leaving a good blood trail all the way to where he parked. I now keep a large box of band-aids under the counter.
biggrin.gif


------------------
Ray Carr
 
Knave, while admitting to not knowing much about law or laywers. Do the cases that are the obvious fault of the person doing the sueing thrown out of court? I mean is anybody these days responsible for there own actions? Sure is a sad statement about our society in general. Courts can be blamed for alot, but so can the people doing the sueing and the lawyers doing there part in assisting them.

[This message has been edited by CJ (edited 02-05-2000).]
 
Mr. Hossom observes that the attorney initiates the lawsuit rather than the members of the jury. That's true, but the attorney does so on behalf of a client/plaintiff who has requested a legal service. I guess Mr. Hossom's point is that the lawyers should turn the clients with seemingly ridiculous cases away. In an ideal world, sure, but let's face it, they have a financial incentive to go forward. Juries continue to reward them for doing it.

I forget who it is, but there's a BF member who uses the signature line "If it's stupid but works, it isn't stupid" or something similar. It's also not always clear what is or is not an "idiot lawsuit." Invariably, the McDonald's coffee case is mentioned and people talk about how stupid it is. Well, once you learn more of the facts, it's not nearly so clear cut.

I guess the points I'm trying to make are: (1)there's plenty of blame to go around; and (2) there ARE reasons for why the system is the way it is. It is a product of both statutes and caselaw and neither judges nor legislatures operate in a vacuum. As I said above, I agree that it needs work, BUT there are safeguards in place. It's easy for people who are not familiar with the process or intricacies of the law and who only hear about sensationally stupid cases to criticize, but it could easily be worse.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top