Caelestis

I've been reading this part of the forum for a few weeks now and though I understand trying to help steer people away from "bad" breeders, it should be remembered that a "bad" breeder, in many cases, is subjective. Personal opinion and factual information often get confused, and second hand information should never be stated as though it were fact. You may not agree with a person's breeding practices, but they are entitled to conduct themselves however they please, provided they break no laws while doing it.

Given my profession (lawyer) I think it should be stated that one should be VERY careful what they say about another person, both in person/public and on an internet forum.

I have seen a great many comments here that could easily result in a significant law suit for libel. We live in a very litigious society, govern yourselves accordingly, an overzealous opinion could cost you dearly some day.

2gooddobes

This is exactly what is wrong with our Country, LAWSUITS. This is the reason we can't get homeowners insurance because we own Dobes or why cities are passing BSL. This day and age we sue for everything and it's wrong.

Caelestis

I agree with you, thankfully we Canadians are not as litigious as people are in the US, our rules of law do not allow for frivolous law suits and we have maximum caps for damages that prevent people suing for millions for inane reasons.

However, it should always be remembered that what comes out of your mouth (or finger tips) cannot be taken back once it's been stated, and you never know when that statement may land you in very hot water.

It's far more safe to simply say "I have not had personal experience wit so and so myself, but these are the breeders I would recommend..."

2gooddobes

It's nice to hear that from a lawyer.

DobeMomToo

Funny -- I see both sides of this argument.

Caelestis is right -- there have been comments made here on this forum that would enable a breeder, or even an individual, to claim libel. Best to error on the side of caution.

2gooddobes also is correct in that frivolous law suits have had an impact on our current environment. However, I don't believe they have created breed bans or the difficulty in obtaining homeowners insurance. IMHO, there is a high level of contempt for the law in the United States and as such people have resorted to civil actions when criminal law fails them. Take the Simpson Case. Criminal law failed (thank you Clark and Darden), yet the Goldman and Brown families prevailed in Civil Court. Was their lawsuit frivolous?

I've litigated several items in my lifetime. In all cases, I took civil action because the party (or parties) on the other side of the law thumbed their nose at the law and at what was right. If people respected one another more, as well as the law, we might see the climate change for the better.

JMHO.

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DobeMomToo



"Life is like a dogsled team. If you ain't the lead dog, the scenery never changes."
--Lewis Grizzard

Kodos

I thought twice about posting this, then decided, "What the heck."

What's black & brown and looks good on a lawyer?

yeah.....you know.....lol

velmadobe

You should not be sued for telling the truth. Some of the "bad" breeders out there may be within the law with their breeding practices, but that does not mean much does it?

If exposing the practices of some of these breeders loses them some sales then I say "woo-hoo"!

I do agree that anything said should be fact OR it needs to be stated that it is "your opinion". I believe that we are still allowed to have an opinion in this country. If we stop being allowed an opinion, then we need to tell all the judges out there (legal and dog show judges) that they can't have an opinion anymore..... they might be sued for it.

I was in the grocery store yesterday, and some scum bag woman (my opinion) was berating the older lady handing out samples of some product - she wanted to know if a certain ingredient was in the product because if she didn't tell them then they would "own" the company after they were done suing them because they were allergic to that ingredient. I wanted to turn around and ask the woman if she knew how to read - the box with the ingredients listed on the back was sitting right on the table - the older lady seemed to have it under control so I let it be.

IMHO - too many people today are unwilling to take responsibility for their own actions and use the brains that God gave them. If anything brings this country to its knees, it will be an increasingly ignorent population that is incapable of doing what is right, because they are incapable of figuring out what "right" is - they however seem to think that "wrong" is someone elses fault. This of course is JMHO (just my humble opinion)

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Dillon's Barclay Amy CD RN WAC CGC TDInc "Velma"
CH Cha-Rish A Moment Like This RN WAC CGC "Louise"
Fitzmar's Command A Minute "Harvard" (10 pts/both majors)
http://fitzmardobermans.freeservers.com/

DobeMomToo

A Rottie?

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DobeMomToo



"Life is like a dogsled team. If you ain't the lead dog, the scenery never changes."
--Lewis Grizzard

BackInBlack

I try not to say anything on a forum that I wouldn't say to someones face if they were standing right in front of me.

If someone wants to sue me for that, so be it.

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dobermansrule

"Given my profession (lawyer)..."

oookay.... if you say so. Maybe you are a breeder as well and got someone hit a nerve? just guessing.