I am a lawyer and it scares me too. This guy ought to take some
responsibility first, but next thing you know he'll be adding his mother. ie
if he had not been born this would not have happenned

Jonathan R. Cooper
Rebecca J. Hartman
Cleveland, OH
90 Cabriolet
83.5 Vanagon (For Sale)
85 Westy
JonathanCooper@worldnet.at.net

 -----Original Message-----
 From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:Vanagon@vanagon.com]On Behalf Of
 Michael Townsend
 Sent: Friday, September 25, 1998 4:30 PM
 To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
 Subject: Re: Added fire protection over engine c

 >Mike Jones wrote:
 >>
 >> Patrick -
 >>
 >> I didn't have have comprehensive coverage (mistake), so I got nothing
 from the
 >> insurance company on my fire. I sued the dealer who inspected
 the bus the
 day
 >> of the fire, the smog inspection people, the seller, and the
 mechanic who
 >> rebuilt the engine.

 Now THIS scares me to think this is normal.  I can see sueing the
 dealer who
 inspected the bus, because they did not notice something they were supposed
 to, and you were paying them for that service.  I don't see how you could
 sue the mechanic, unless the fuel injection hose was explicitly
 requested as
 part of the engine rebuild, and the vehicle was yours when it was being
 repaired.  I don't think the smog inspection people are related at
 all.  Now
 the scarey part -- the seller.  Most people do no maintenance on their
 vehicles, so when you buy a used one you have to assume that they haven't
 and you get it all done yourself.  I don't see how you can hold the seller
 liable whether he or she knew about the potential problem or not.  If you
 test drive a vehicle with no brake shoes, you fix them first or don't buy
 it.  It is up to YOU to determine the value of the vehicle.  This story
 scares me, because I might occasionally sell an older (but well maintained
 vehicle).  But as a private individual, there is no warranty, expressed or
 implied.  If that means no one will buy from me unless they know me as an
 honest person, well, fine.  However, once I sign that title, its yours --
 whether you choose to insure it or not.

 Just my opinion, I am not a lawyer.

 Michael Townsend
 townsend@rtp.ericsson.se