From: "Chris Adams" <adamsc@io-online.com>
Date: Thu, 25 Jul 1996 10:51:13 +0800
To: "cypherpunks" <dlv@bwalk.dm.com>
Subject: Re: Boobytraps and the American Legal System
Message-ID: <199607242154.OAA16374@cygnus.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


On 24 Jul 96 01:21:34 -0800, dlv@bwalk.dm.com wrote:


>I think Tim May is growing senile...

This is new? <g>

>> (Later examples were to be even worse. For example, the burglar who climbed
>> on a roof and stepped through a skylight. He sued, and won. I guess the
>> owner of the property was obligated to install night lights so burglars
>> could see their way, and to generally make his property more
>> "burglar-friendly."
>
>Actually, he fell through the roof of a school he was trying to burgalize.
>
>In a similar incident a burglar broke into a house that was being treated
>for pests (i.e., was full of toxic fumes). He died; his family sued the
>owners and won.
>
>Maybe someone can post a reference to these two cases. I recall that both
>happened in New York, but I could be wrong.

I remember hearing about a case on this end of the continent (west coast)
that involved  a store that had been robbed many times. The owner noticed
that most burglars came through the skylight, so he electrified it. Not
much of a charge, just something like 12 volts - enough to keep someones
hands off of it...  However, a klutzy burglar managed to fall into the
skylight and get stuck.  His partner deserted him.  Over the course of
several hours, he died... *ouch*  Needless to say, his next-of-kin sued
and won. The guy lost his store.


Another one I liked: in (I believe) Pennsylvania, a drunk peed on an
electrified third rail.  His next of kin sued the trolley company and
won...

A man tried to commit suicide in Chicago by jumping onto an El track.  He
was only crippled, so he sued and won!

// Chris Adams <adamsc@io-online.com> - Webpages for sale! Se habla JavaScript!
// Automatically receive my resume or PGPKEY by sending email with a subject
// of 'send PGPKEY' or 'send resume'. Capitalization counts so be careful!