The Goat Show:
I'm a law school student doing a paper on the liability of SCUBA equipment manufacturers. I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of any cases or articles on this subject that would be of any help.
Thanks
The Goat Show
Goat Show: As a lawyer (graduate 2000) I suggest that you do a westlaw/lexis seach on product liabilty and scuba to get all the cases out there. As a law student you have westlaw/lexis for free. So, use the heck out of it while you can (unless your a 1L and they don't let you use it yet like they did our class; if so, make friends with a 2nd or 3rd year)! Westlaw/Lexis will charge you an arm and a leg for the service once you graduate so get the most out of it now. I would do a search now but I am at home and my office is where I can access it.
For your paper, I'd look at other assumption of risk activities against manufacturers like parachuting, hang gliding, flying, skiing, etc. As secondary authority for Scuba.
There is a REALLY knowledgeable attorney that participates on this board. I think his handle is Azatty (something to the effect of Arizona Attorney) he is very, very informative and very bright from my reads of his posts. Also, there is a recent tragedy involving a tank explosion in Florida. It was a Lexur tank if I am correct. I'd look into that case; there will be no decision but if you do your homework and findout the attorneys involved you can get the pleadings to the case simply by contacting them or the courthouse where the case is filed. Lexur has also had some issues with pre 1990 tanks; I don't know the full details so I am reluctant to call it a recall but what I believe happened is that if you sent them your old tank they would send you a $50 credit to the purchase of a new one. That company might fit right in with your paper.
Hopefully, this post was some help. Let me know if I can do anything to do to help. If you are shy about getting the pleadings let me know and I will help you.
Not very often would I dare speak for others on this board, but, I am quite sure that many of us would be interested in your paper if you would like to share it with us. Please do a search for Azatty and read some of his posts; he might be a lot of benefit to you since he knows a lot in the area of scuba and tort law.
Remember about law school: 1st year they scare you to death; 2nd year they work you to death; and 3rd they bore you to death.
And, promise you won't be a sleazy defense counsel lawyer nor a sleazy frivilous plantiff's lawyer. Be a decent lawyer that defys the sterotypical lawyer and you'll have a good practice. Both sides need good people. Best Wishes to you.