If a decorator does a room like a 70's disco, and at a later party someone is hurt, is the decorator liable?

Question

I was told that if I used this motif in helping a friend decorate his living room (the layout and several items already in the room would lend themselves to the decor going in this direction) I could be sued or prosecuted. Is this true? If so, please cite the specific case law or statute. Also, if it is true in your state, is it also true in Virginia? Thank you.

Answer 1

I don't know about any specific law or statute in your state but if you are a professional decorator and you knowingly put dangerous and potentially harmful items in the room then you may be held accountable. (like hanging knives as decor, using flammable paints near the fireplace, using improper electrical wiring that caused the house to burn down, etc.) Of course, logic and reason dictates. If a guest of your client's decided to body-slam off the couch and into the glass coffee table that you chose (AND ultimately your client approved of) then I can't see how you could be held liable. If you are worried about things like that then I would warn the client about any potential dangers, just to cover yourself--like please don't hang off the disco ball.

If you are a professional, just don't do any shoddy work. You know better.

Answer 2

Not familiar with Virginia law, but in general if you were to incorporate something into the design that was an obvious hazard and someone was hurt as a result, you could have a problem. For instance, if you hung a disco ball from the ceiling with a thumb tack and it fell and hurt someone -- the thumb tack obviously is not enough to hold the ball, so it is a hazard. If you accept payment (either money or trade of some sort) for the service, you may have a bit more liability. In short, if you don't do anything that could obviously cause someone to get hurt, you should be fine.

Answer 3

My answer is short and simple, but..


I don't believe you should be held liable. Kind of like suing Honda for an accident you had. Or Marlboro for getting cancer.

Once it's in that person's hands, it's in THEIR hands.

Answer 4

was the person at the party drinking? because then it is the owner of the houses fault for giving them alcohol, they are responsible for their guest.
Sounds like the friend probably wants to sue them, so they are passing the buck on to you and that would be like you turning around and blaming the manufacturer who would then blame the factory and so on. People don't like to take responsibility for there actions.
fight it!

Answer 5

How could they be hurt? They would have to prove that you were negligent.