who's responsible?

[Farrell]

That's a tough call Jon. My guess is that from a legal standpoint, the 
person who put the fallboard on the floor would be liable for the hazard it 
created (but I ain't no lawyer).

Whenever I lay a large piano part on the floor - if the client is in the 
room - I will always ask something like "is it okay to set the music desk 
here on the floor - no kids or anyone that could trip over it?" I suspect if 
you have informed the home owner of the situation, then you would be in the 
clear.

Also, if I remove the knee board off a vertical - which often seems safer to 
lean up against something - I'll ask if it is okay to lean it up against 
whatever (the wall, a piece of furniture, a door molding) - that way I get 
instant feedback about whether they will go through the ceiling if there is 
any possibility of the knee board making a mark on whatever I lean it up 
against - and I won't hesitate to cushion it with a rag or my tuning lever 
sock if need be.

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message ----- 
> Here's what happened today, apropos to this topic; where would the 
> liability lie...
> something else of which to be mindful.
>
> Removed the fallboard and placed it on the floor out of the way,
> in front of a chair against the wall, near the piano.
> The lady wanted to place a basket of letters from the dining room
> on that chair.  As I'm tuning I catch her out of the corner of my eye
> as I hear her foot hit the fallboard and she almost tripped.
>
> Is it my fault for not telling her the fallboard is in plain sight on the 
> floor?
> After all, the action had been out to squeeze in a few drifted damper 
> leads.
>
> So who's responsible for watching where she is going?
>
> I suppose it wouldn't hurt to mention that something is out of place
> in otherwise familiar surroundings.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jon Page