DEMA Seminar - How to Avoid Litigation from Scuba Intros and General Instruction

[Thalassamania]

Rick used to just do defense work, I did not know he was doing plaintiff work, that's a new development for me, but then we've not crossed paths in about ten years. Almost every plaintiffs' case I ever worked Rick's firm was on the other side (I will say that with about ten cases between us, I worked only one that lost. That statistic is not offered as any particular claim to great persuasiveness as a witness, but rather to the care with which I selected cases, if they were not slam dunks in my mind I declined them, unlike a lawyer I need to believe in what I am doing.

 

[cerich]

This whole situation is crazy, really crazy....

 

[Scott L]

Ahhhh, I get it now. He recently swapped hats which can leave many feeling betrayed. Understandable. Face reality, he is a professional advocate and either the new challenge motivated him, the money, or both. Easy to understand ruffled feathers but he has that right. Apperentely he has spoiled the industry with very able defences. The dive industry's defence firms have a bit of a learning curve to close. Life is never dull!

 

[Thalassamania]

There's a lot more money for a lawyer in doing a good job for plaintiffs, when you win.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

If anyone had asked his advice when they started dumbing down courses and removing basic skills I have a feeling the presentation I just completed would have never been written and the deaths that inspired it would not have occurred. Really is making me glad I teach the way I do and for the agency that issues my certs.

The PADI response to his presentation smells of anger, sour grapes, and a good dose of fear.

 

[Scott L]

I'm in shock, truly.

setting out to humiliate a lawyer VERY GOOD at his job who once was gatekeeper to the skeletons in the closets seems a bad idea...

Seems like a silly diversion as mentioned earlier. Very unprofessional of PADI.

 

[Scared Silly]

All this talk of switching sides sounds like a politician who leaves office then comes back as a lobbyist.

BTW the source of the Cronin's letter was an email sent to me by PADI (I am a PADI DM).

 

[Thalassamania]

The scuba industry would like to have you believe that anyone, lawyer or expert, who takes a plaintiff case is somehow a traitor to the industry, even when the case involves clear negligence on the part of the instructor / shop / agency. The basic game has been to fight all suits like mad, but generally to settle on the court house steps in such a way that the facts can not be disclosed and that the suit stops with the instructor and the shop and does not go on to hit the agency.

 

[BDSC]

Now that's funny. What an idiot...

After reading this thread, I doubt he is an idiot. But if he is one, he's probably a very wealthy one!

 

[JS1scuba]

I too wish I could be there to hear the lecture.

Their business is the law -- YOUR business is the industry. They are merely hired guns.

Hi Peter,

Rick's business is the law and he specializes in maritime, recreational, and commercial diving cases. PADI's business is not the industry. They are in the book publishing and instructional materials business. People seem to forget that part. They have done a good job at being an industry leader at it but make no mistake, they are not in the business of representing the "industry."

Cheers
JDS