Re: Twin coils on ebay

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <Mddeming-at-aol-dot-com>

In a message dated 7/17/01 1:50:18 AM Eastern Daylight Time, tesla-at-pupman-dot-com 
writes: 



>
> Original poster: "Brent Turner by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" < 
> bturner-at-apc-dot-net> 
>
> Interestingly enough, if the common toaster were a recently developed 
> product, then it's liability issues would be a nightmare! Think about it 
> - you have a device which exposes the consumer to 120V AC wall power via 
> the heater elements. Stick a metal eating utinsil into it to extract 
> your stuck slice of toast, and zap, bam! 
>
> Reason it's still around (and relatively cheap) is that it's considered 
> a 'common' device, and has been around for a long time. 
>
> While Tesla coils are likewise 'old' devices, they aren't 'common', and 
> can be considered unique. This was an issue I debated when working on my 
> book. I didn't want to actually present 'plans', but rather explain 
> existing technology which wasn't unique to me. That way, I can't 
> effectively be held responsible (there's the key word, BTW) for stuff 
> that already exists. OK, try and sue good ol' Nicky-boy who invented the 
> thing. 
>
> While I am not a lawyer, (and any comments on this idea are welcome by 
> those more knowledgeable) it might be better to sell the thing in a 
> non-functional state. That way, the buyer must make the initiative to 
> make it actually functional. 
>
> Still, it might not be a bad idea to take up a collection or something 
> and find a sympathetic lawyer who can draft up a 'boilerplate' standard 
> disclaimer/sales agreement/liability waiver that could go to great 
> lengths in covering one's hind end. 
>
> - brent 


Hi All, 
        While it is true that a hungry lawyer will feed on anything 
including its own progeny and offal, most companies get around the 
fear-of-litigation paralysis by risk analysis and risk management. Perhaps 
the following survey would allow coilers to assess the risk, if we all 
responded to it: 

1. Have you sold any HV device and gotten sued for a third party accident? 

2. Do you know anyone who sold any HV device that got sued for a third party 
accident? 

3. Do you know anyone who knows anyone who sold any HV device that got sued 
for a third party accident? 

Assuming a thousand people answering the questions, then: 
Every yes answer to question #1 would indicate 1:1000 odds, each yes to #2 
would indicate 1:50,000 and each yes to #3 would indicate 1:2,500,000. 

I think you'll find that the odds, based on experience, are less than that of 
being hit by a meteorite. 

For $0.02 plain, 
Matt D.