aeroflyer 0 #1 March 20, 2012 Hi all, I am thinking of becoming a dealer for some equipment like jumpsuits tracking suits wingsuits etc. I would like to ask the other dealers out there do you run into issues where you are held liable for accidents involving the product you sold? If I did become a dealer, I would not plan on selling anything to unqualified individuals. What ways of verifying are the norm? Have you been held liable by people using gear you sold? Looking at this from a legal standpoint (asked a friend who's in law school), as a dealer you are like the bartender, even though you don't make the beer, you serve it, and are responsible for the well-being of your customer. What have you run into? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #2 March 20, 2012 You can be named in a lawsuit if you sold something to someone who sold it to someone else who then got hurt. Have seen it happen. You can plan to not sell things to unqualified people, but people lie. You can try to verify experience by contacting the dzo at the jumper's home dz, but be aware that many dzo's have no clue how many jumps a particular jumper has. Pay a lawyer to find out how to protect your assets before you have to pay one to get you off of a lawsuit (or even worse, to defend you). (the above culled from 7 years working at a large gear dealer and a year running my own gear store... ) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #3 March 20, 2012 QuoteYou can be named in a lawsuit if you sold something to someone who sold it to someone else who then got hurt. Have seen it happen. You can plan to not sell things to unqualified people, but people lie. You can try to verify experience by contacting the dzo at the jumper's home dz, but be aware that many dzo's have no clue how many jumps a particular jumper has. Pay a lawyer to find out how to protect your assets before you have to pay one to get you off of a lawsuit (or even worse, to defend you). (the above culled from 7 years working at a large gear dealer and a year running my own gear store... ) What she said. To the OP - Don't get your legal advice from law students (they don't even have their legal "A license" yet), and don't get it online. There are issues you need to discuss with a lawyer that you don't even realize, because, just like a student jumper, you don't (yet) know what you don't know. Do this the right way: schedule an appointment with a lawyer, sit down in his/her office, and discuss all the issues in detail. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aeroflyer 0 #4 March 23, 2012 Thanks for the advice, I will explore these issues with a lawyer if I am to become a dealer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
virgin-burner 1 #5 March 26, 2012 ..or just move to a place where people are reasonable and rational, not "sue-happy".. “Some may never live, but the crazy never die.” -Hunter S. Thompson "No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aeroflyer 0 #6 March 28, 2012 They are not quite as bad in Canada, but it still happens. I think we don't have punitive damages though, only actual damages or something to that effect, so it makes it a bit harder. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
danielcroft 2 #7 March 28, 2012 Quote"sue-happy".. Litigious is the word you're looking for. Is it the people or the legal system? Chicken or egg. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
virgin-burner 1 #8 March 28, 2012 Quote Quote "sue-happy".. Litigious is the word you're looking for. Is it the people or the legal system? Chicken or egg. different legal system here, no "litigations" or whatever the proper term then would be. definitly chicken. or egg! “Some may never live, but the crazy never die.” -Hunter S. Thompson "No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
