I have a very good insurance company for such things. They have been
able to recover costs for defending every such suit to date - not
being a professional, certified 'technician' removes much of the due
diligence problem. Now, if I help you with electrical wiring, that's
another story.

Still a PITA, but generally just helping out leaves the owner in the
position of responsibility. Matter of fact, it generally leaves him
with liability for any injuries you suffer as well. I've found that a
good lawyer usually makes a pretty decent poker player as well.

On Sun, 5 Jun 2005 17:51:17 UTC Lee Ayrton <layrton@panix.com> wrote:

> Will Honea wrote:
>
> [snip fore and aft]
> >
> > In the society of lawyers we have evolved into, there is also a
> > liability issue to consider for paid services.
>
> IANALawyer but I very much doubt that the lack of an exchange of cash or
> of a formal place of regular business will effectively keep one out of
> USofA civil courts over an allegation of loss or injury.
>
> Consider: You are a Good Guy, you help me out by doing over my brakes
> in your driveway, I pay you nothing. A month later a rusty brake line
> pops during an attempted panic stop. I survive and haul you into court
> because you knew or ought to have known that a dangerous condition
> existed (and because I'm a jerk, am under insured and need the cash).
> "Why," my tinhorn from the firm of Dewey, Cheetham and Howe screeches to
> the judge, "Mr. Honea might just as well have put a ticking timebomb
> under my client's driver's seat! Honea was under the car, did the
> brakes and _let_ my client drive away in a lethal deathtrap." I might
> not be able to convince a jury that you had a duty to guard my safety
> but it will cost you at least $10,000 in lawyer fees to defend yourself
> against my suit.
>
> Wanna settle right now for, oh, $6K, before my tinhorn finds out that
> you hold a $1M umbrella policy on your house?
>
>
>


--
Will Honea