Liability

[JW Knives]

This topic come up on another forum and I realized that I don't think that I have ever seen it here.

What steps are you other knife makers taking with regards to liability. I know the larger manufacturers have insurance policies in place to protect them but what about the other "smaller" makers like a few of us here. Are you doing anything specifically to protect yourselves? It had come up that a maker was getting sued because somebody had seriously injured themselves using one of the makers knives.

Just curious to see what others are doing with regards to this?

Jay

 

[Dave Behrens]

Only thing I can can think of is a disclaimer on the front page of your site if you have one. I would contact an attorney for mor technical info. I would think that if the injury was not a result of the tool failing ie breakage etc, you should not(I know...should land:foot be held liable.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

It has been discussed many times on the forum. The short answer is that there is no real liability.

Someone always says, "Oh, but some idiot will cut himself with your knife and sue you."
The problem is that it is an unwinnable suit. The court would never take the case after briefs.

It is inherent in the purchase and function of a knife that it cuts. An accidental cut, or one deliberately delivered by another person, is not a liability on the maker.

The only issue possible would be product liability on a negligently defective product or a dangerous design.
If you were a knife making business, and produced a folder that would shut on your finger, and it was an obvious defect existing in all the knives of that model, then it is possible that a suit could be brought.

As a general rule, there isn't a deep enough pocket to make suing most knifemakers a viable idea.