Ok, if you answer a question on here and then the person uses your advice but it is wrong, can the asker sue the answerer for damages or in legal terms is the person answering libel?
2006-10-15 14:58:08 · 18 answers · asked by Billy 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
NO
2006-10-15 14:59:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not A Lawyer here --- But IMHO, Yeah, they might be able to sue. However, the Asker is not asking a professional about their advice. To do that costs $$$. I am not receiving any $ compensation and only answer with my opinion to the question asked.
Should the "Asker" think that my response was the best, then thank you for the 10 points. Anything more than that, I don't think so.
Interesting question! Thanks for asking.
IMHO,
The Ol' Sasquatch Ã
PS - How does one receive compensation from a creature which does not exist, in the minds of mankind? ;-)
2006-10-15 15:09:25 · answer #2 · answered by Ol' Sasquatch 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. Since many answerers are basically anonymous, good luck trying to track someone down who has given faulty advice.
2. Any licensed attorney who answers would be smart to include a disclaimer that they are not offering legal advice and that no attorney client relationship exists.
3. Anyone who relies solely on advice/answers/information received here to deal with a legal problem is an idiot. (I don't mean that as a personal attack on any one person...especially since I don't know this asker...but come on - this is a generally anonymous answer board.)
4. The term in this instance is "liable" and not "libel."
2006-10-15 15:03:38 · answer #3 · answered by Doug E. Doug 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First of all, a wrong answer or advice, is not 'libel'. Libel would be the printing of an untruth, which causes damage to the subject. Writing an article that claims that McDonald's uses baby seals in its McNuggets would be considered libel.
As for the advice itself, if you're not paying for it, you have no expectation of reliability. It is not a professional opinion, rendered by an expert, so you're taking your chances.
2006-10-15 15:03:32 · answer #4 · answered by normobrian 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The answer is no. They are not a fiduciary to you, and if you take advise from here without consulting an attorney you are a fool. What could you sue them for? You are responsible for the advise you get and use, unless you have a client relationship with the person and then you might, but might not, have a case for ineffective assistance of counsel.
2006-10-15 15:03:06 · answer #5 · answered by strangedaze23 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
if you claim to be an expert on a subject-they could potentially sue but it is unlikely that they would win. If you take advise from someone without determining that the person giving the advise is actually knowledgable in the subject then it is at your own risk. Some common sense is needed obviously.
2006-10-15 15:10:04 · answer #6 · answered by rwl_is_taken 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anyone using specific legal advice here is taking their chances. I suspect a defense against a lawsuit for advice gone bad would include questions like "did you check their credentials as a lawyer? call ANY bar association? even look to see how many 'best answers' they had?"
My legal advice here is generally limited to "you need a lawyer", but I do explain the legal terrain the question wherein the question lies.
2006-10-15 15:02:31 · answer #7 · answered by open4one 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No--libel is saying something false about a person and harming them thereby. If some person gives you free advise at your request there is no liability if it is bad. if you retained an attorney and he gave you bad advise and was negligent in doing so then you could sue him.
2006-10-15 15:02:19 · answer #8 · answered by beckychr007 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's possible, but not likely. This is due to Yahoo's own disclaimer about the truthfulness of answers on this site. Basically their disclaimer says "use at your own risk" and "user beware". It is possible that you could sue, but I REALLY doubt you'd get anywhere with it because of that disclaimer, it's accessibility, and the anonymity of the users on the site.
2006-10-15 15:06:34 · answer #9 · answered by cyanne2ak 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Anyone can sue. But seeing as how this is just a message board and you are not peddling yourself as a professional and no money has exchanged hands, then they would not win, and it would be a waste of time and money on thier part.
2006-10-15 15:04:26 · answer #10 · answered by Answer Girl 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you read the bottom of every page on answers it says:
Yahoo! does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any Yahoo! Answers content. Click here for the Full Disclaimer.
So, no.
2006-10-15 15:05:51 · answer #11 · answered by onanist13 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋