seinfeld episode

[tonyou812]

OMG last week I got a call from a handyman asking me if I can come look at a service that was "shooting fire". So I go and I find that one of the breakers wasn't making good contact and started to arc in the panel casing the breaker to melt (I actually have it in my van).
But anyway the HO had a mold company there and they had about 20 fans and humidifiers plugged in various outlets in the basement and I think this was the preceptor to the problem.
SO I tell the HO Is only choice is to either swap out the 100 amp panel or go for an upgrade. which he agreed to and didnt have any problem with my price.
So I tell him I am going to have to get a permit and have it inspected and what not.(he actually went and got it for me) as i'm leaving the Handyman asks if I can wait a day or two so he can finish what he was doing there, because he didnt get any permits for the bath he was remodeling and he didnt want any problems with the town.
I agreed to wait and when I went to look at his work my eyeballs almost popped out of my head. He installed a Jacuzzi tub and didnt leave any room for an access panel and even better he cut the cord on the tub and open spliced the cord to the number 12. Of course there was no bond wire either. I said to him do you think that is a good idea to cut that cord and not leave any room for acesss not to mention the lack of a GFCI? He said with a straight face mind you" aw its safe and when I install something its for good." "You sparkies worry to much"

I tell you guys I dont think I would have slept at night If I let that Bozo go through with that install. SO I put a new cord end on the tub, bonded the motor for him and installed a faceless gfci in the bath. And told him he should really not do electrical work without a license.
He said to me " Aww what are you gonna call the electrical police?" I said no but if you keep it up your gonna kill someone some day. And would you beileve this idiot acually had the "hutzpa" to tell me I should give him 15 percent of my work. I told him I did One gfci, bonded motor, and new cord end. Theres your 15 percent.

And the rest of his work was just as bad. I cant beileve people acually pay this nut to do work. The rest of his work looked like my 9 year old nephew did it.
What is the deal with Handymen anyway? I didnt know they were allowed to do electrical or plumbing?

 

[peter d]

What is the deal with Handymen anyway? I didnt know they were allowed to do electrical or plumbing?

I have yet to see a handyman do decent plumbing or electrical work. Occasionally I'll see them do something that looks halfway passable, but a little bit of investigation will reveal some egregious error.

 

[bikeindy]

Yeah, I am sure there are no civil attorneys or lawsuits in your area.

I get it, it goes like this... Hey this building burned and two people died, what was the cause? It was an electrical fire. Who's at fault? Well there was this electrician in here the other day he pointed out some violations, I ignored him and he failed to turn me in to the violation guys so it must be his fault. Yeah lets sue that guy for all he's worth he caused two deaths.

Now who were you asking was new to the world Bob?

 

[growler]

I get it, it goes like this... Hey this building burned and two people died, what was the cause? It was an electrical fire. Who's at fault? Well there was this electrician in here the other day he pointed out some violations, I ignored him and he failed to turn me in to the violation guys so it must be his fault. Yeah lets sue that guy for all he's worth he caused two deaths.

Are you kidding, when the lawyers get started they may sue the guy that delivers the mail to the building. Law suits are about settlements and not about any sort of logic or normal reasoning. You may be absolutely right in a case but how much will it cost to prove that you are right. If you have millions of dollars that you don't mind spending to prove that you are right then you go to court otherwise the lawyers try to figure out if it's cheaper to take the case to court or to just settle the case out of court.

Just remember that your fate may be decided by a jury of your peers, people to dumb to get out of jury duty. :grin::grin: Little joke there.

 

[peter d]

Most of you have probably heard of the Station nightclub fire that killed 100 people and injured and maimed hundreds more. It started when the band playing that night used pyrotechnics indoors, which ignited highly flammable packing foam that the owners of the club put on the walls for sound deadening.

When the dust finally settled years later, just about everyone you can think of was being named in the lawsuit filed against the club - people that had absolutely nothing to do with the cause of the fire. Even the manufacturer of the packing foam was sued and ended up paying a settlement, despite the fact that their product was used in a grossly negligent fashion.

 

[steelersman]

Maybe not held liable, but certainly sued.

Are you serious? Do you really think that you can be held liable for not fixing violations that you had nothing to do with after you told the owner and they wouldn't authorize you to correct? Come on man. Come back to earth already.

 

[steelersman]

I notice that all the time also, I wonder what happens to all those covers:-?

crackheads taking them to the scrap yard.

 

[iwire]

Are you serious? Do you really think that you can be held liable for not fixing violations that you had nothing to do with after you told the owner and they wouldn't authorize you to correct?

He did not say we had to fix anything .... notify.

Come on man. Come back to earth already.

Respect other peoples views even if you disagree.

 

[steelersman]

I was working in the Nashville area 2 years ago. We went to a restaraunt for lunch. Coming out of the restroom I saw a hand-written temporary sign that said "Dont touch cigarette machine while talking on the pay phone".

I was curious. A few days later, I made sure I brought my Wiggy to lunch. I measured the full 120 vac solenoid pulled-in betwwen the pay phone and the cigarette machine. I noticed two major possible problems, the cigarette machine had its line cord spliced with black tape, and it was also plugged into a surface mounted Wiremold box that was sloppily installed.

Returning to the table, I told the waitress that there was a severe electrocution hazzard present, and she should tell her boss. She laughed it off, and went on her way.

they still had cigarette machines just 2 years ago?

 

[480sparky]

Are you serious? Do you really think that you can be held liable for not fixing violations that you had nothing to do with after you told the owner and they wouldn't authorize you to correct? Come on man. Come back to earth already.

I said it before, and I'll say it again....

One person can sue another for anything. I could sue you for making this comment. All I need is a lawyer willing to take the case. They'll get paid whether I have a valid case or not.

The electrical trade has hacks, and the legal profession has shysters. Both are willing to do whatever for money.

 

[steelersman]

I said it before, and I'll say it again....

One person can sue another for anything. I could sue you for making this comment. All I need is a lawyer willing to take the case. They'll get paid whether I have a valid case or not.

The electrical trade has hacks, and the legal profession has shysters. Both are willing to do whatever for money.

yes but I said you wouldn't be held liable not sued. I started to say sued instead of liable , but then I knew that people would say "sure you can be sued for anything" and sure enough as I read further Bob said just that.

 

[iwire]

When the dust finally settled years later, just about everyone you can think of was being named in the lawsuit filed against the club - people that had absolutely nothing to do with the cause of the fire. Even the manufacturer of the packing foam was sued and ended up paying a settlement, despite the fact that their product was used in a grossly negligent fashion.

Along with Home Depot, Anheuser-Busch, JBL speakers, a TV station...

The tragic 20 February 2003 fire at the Station Nightclub in West
Warwick, R.I., killed 96 people and injured more than 200. It was a
stupid stunt: the band playing that night set off fireworks, setting fire
to soundproofing foam. With the nightclub's insurance maxed out and no
one else to turn to for the expected $1 billion of liability, lawyers in
the case sued anyone they could think of in their search for deep pockets
to pick. One unlikely victim of the tactic was Clear Channel
Communications, which owns a radio station in the area, on the basis that
they helped promote the event. In February, Clear Channel announced a
tentative $22 million settlement with survivors and the families of those
killed. Rhode Island's "joint and several liability" put Clear Channel on
the hook; as long as lawyers could show just the tiniest involvement by
the company, it ended up having to pay even though they had no part in
the fire.

Other deep pockets included TV station WPRI, which was ironically on
the scene to do a story on the dangers of nightclubs when the fire broke
out, which paid $30 million on the theory that their cameraman's
equipment blocked an exit. JBL Speakers paid $815,000 to settle a charge
that its speakers had flammable foam in them; beer maker Anheuser-Busch
($5 million) and its local distributor ($16 million) because their beer
was sold at the nightclub; Sealed Air Corp. paid $16 million, since its
foam was used for soundproofing, even though the foam was not rated for
such a purpose; the State of Rhode Island, $10 million, and the city
where the fire occurred, $10 million, for who-knows-what reason; and Home
Depot (amount unknown), where the foam was purchased. There were also
criminal charges in the case; the band's manager and the nightclub's
owners pleaded guilty and no-contest, respectively, to manslaughter
charges.

 

[steelersman]

Along with Home Depot, Anheuser-Busch, JBL speakers, a TV station...

what a rape that is. Take money from people or corporations that have absolutely nothing to do with it. Man I hate attorneys. Too bad that nightclub wasn't chockfull of attorneys.

 

[peter d]

the State of Rhode Island, $10 million, and the city
where the fire occurred, $10 million, for who-knows-what reason;

I find that the most interesting comment of all. The state and town paid a settlement but the reason was not named....hmmmm...makes you wonder.

 

[charlietuna]

Anytime i've been called to repair and fix parking lot lighting, I've had to custom make the covers--nothing seems to work on them. Although i see the owner's maintainance workers using duct tap a lot !!!!!

When i see an Electrical Contractor's truck speeding i always figure they are ontheir way to repair a REAL dangerous life threatening problem- which makes the speeding ligit !

 

[growler]

what a rape that is. Take money from people or corporations that have absolutely nothing to do with it. Man I hate attorneys. Too bad that nightclub wasn't chockfull of attorneys.

I don't like the legal system any better than the next guy but attorneys are necessary. If you read a bit of history you will find that before we had courts of law (judges & attorneys) we still had the same problems.

A thousand years ago a case would have been taken before a King or a local magistrate and whatever this one person decided would have been the final decision made by the legal authorities. Things didn't work out any better before we had courts or the modern legal system. Decisions were never all that fair and being innocent was never that great of a defense.

The people killed and injured during the fire did deserve some sort of compensation but the insuance carried by the bar was not enough to cover it. The attorneys did what they were paid to do and that's to collect where ever possible.

If you are just reading about an incident then you may hate these attorneys but if you need to hire one then these blood suckers are just the people that you want.

 

[bradleyelectric]

If you are just reading about an incident then you may hate these attorneys but if you need to hire one then these blood suckers are just the people that you want.

Your saying there isn't an abuse of the system here? There is a big difference in needing an attorney and wanting to suck blood.

 

[mxslick]

they still had cigarette machines just 2 years ago?

Yep they sure did, and still have some around. I worked for a company that sold/repaired vending equipment and I had to refurbish several of them. Even though some vague local law/ordinance mandated that they be scrapped once they were broken.

Oh yeah, and the co-owner of my apt. building is known as "Kramer." He seriously is just like the character...

 

[iaov]

mxslick, I love your "Stupid should be painfull" It always has been for me.:smile:The things that realy hurt usually are the best teachers.

 

[mxslick]

Thanks iaov...I wish I could take the credit for that saying, but it is my friend and landlord, (but not the Kramer guy) who said it in reference to a sword buyer who drew the blade across his palm while asking "Is it sharp?"

Six stitches and copious amounts of blood answered that question.

My friend made that famous saying after the paramedics took care of the damage.

He owns a booth at a Reniassance Festival site where we sell swords, knives and other weapons of medieval destruction.

To stay out of trouble with the mod squad, and back OT, I have in the past reported hazards I have spotted at my job sites and other places. What they do about the information I give them is their concern and I don't worry about it.

I DO NOT, however, take it upon myself to report it to any Code Enforcement officials, etc.