Can we sue Loyd Case?

[Brian Koontz]

A friend of mine bought a computer at Circuit City a few years ago. Shortly afterwards he was having a technical problem (I don't remember what exactly, something minor). He called the local store and they told him they couldn't give him technical advice over the phone, since there were potential legal problems (he could sue them for bad advice that damaged his system). They required he bring the computer in for them to look at.

I don't know whether that was bullshit or not. If its not bullshit, then can someone like Loyd Case (not that he ever gives bad advice) be sued for advice that results in system damage?

Is this Case dismissed or I'll see your Case in court?

[XPav]

Its bullshit.

What they're trying to do though is correct -- if the guy brings the computer in they can fix it in 15 minutes (and charge for it probably) rather than spending 2 hours on the phone dealing with a possibly unskilled operator.

[Case]

I don't know whether that was bullshit or not. If its not bullshit, then can someone like Loyd Case (not that he ever gives bad advice) be sued for advice that results in system damage?

Is this Case dismissed or I'll see your Case in court?

I've never been approached in a legal sense by users I've given advice to, but a hardware company who will remain nameless once threatened legal action because of a review I wrote. CGW's editor and publisher backed me up (even though I was a freelancer), so nothing came of it.

[Greg Williams]

In this country? Of course you CAN be sued, look at all the bullshit things people sue for.

[Jason Levine]

In this country? Of course you CAN be sued, look at all the bullshit things people sue for.

Ah, so cynical, but, in fact, so wrong. The courts have consistently dismissed lawsuits alleging that "how to" books and columns caused damage of one sort of the other. The rationale, and a good one in my view, is that to impose liability in this situation would have an unacceptably "chilling" effect on freedom of the press.