Date:         Wed, 12 Sep 2001 00:44:35 EDT
Reply-To:     ThingGuy@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Lashley <ThingGuy@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Propane heaters; Are you SERIOUS????
Comments: To: BenTbtstr8@aol.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 9/9/01 8:41:10 PM, BenTbtstr8 writes:

<< That just means you accept full liability then, Steve. By "you" I mean the
end user has full and sole liability and it can be proven that the seller
and/or the manufacturer knew he intended to use it in the US. I'm not a
lawyer but I can see where an accident can be catastrophic financially if not
in safety to the end user.

Let's say I ride with Mr. Enduser. He misuses the item.  I die. Then my heirs
are probably more likely to sue him and/or his estate since he imported this
thing and installed it in his van even though he knew they were NOT certified
for use in the US. That would be the easiset to prove I would think. Right
JD's?

Dead Ben >>

I was just giving some ideas on how one could obtain the heaters even when
they are not available in the US.  If you misuse your own heater and cause
someone's death you will always be liable and not the manufacturer.  The non
US certification is not cause alone for legal action.  The heaters are CE
certified and are not even illegal to sell in the US, they are just not
approved by the industry here.  I do not believe there is any US regulations
that govern this type of heater.  We are only talking industry certification,
not government certification.

One of the reasons that Truma doesn't want to offer their products here in
the US is because they believe all we do over here is sue each other.  Your
statement above seems to support this.

The fact is that no one would sue me over your death since I have so little
money, and no big product liability policy.  Having the large insurance
policy will just about guaranty that I do get sued.


Steve Lashley
SKL Enterprises Inc.
http://EuroCampers.com
636-797-9015
636-789-2127 fax