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
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