 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2026-06-16 23:18
Just out of curiosity, have any clarinet makers or makers of any clarinet related accessories ever had lawsuits filed against them purely down to owner/player stupidity/user error/incompetence?
Has anyone been successful if it's gone to court?
Do all brand new clarinets and clarinet accessories come with disclaimers in the owners' manual or pamphlet to prevent the makers getting sued for injury or harm as a result of improper use?
The only disclaimers I've seen are the usual "We reserve the right to change the specification of our products at any time without prior notice".
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: WhiteElephant
Date: 2026-06-19 22:41
First two paragraphs: No, assuming that you refer to lawsuits filed in America (and noting that words like "purely" and "all" are rarely used by lawyers worth their salt, except when reserving or disclaiming rights or claims). As far as my quick search on Westlaw is concerned, there is no product liability case involving a clarinet that even led to a dispositive motion's resolution. If there ever was a case, it probably got settled or voluntarily dismissed before things got too expensive.
Third paragraph: Probably, given that vending machines come with warnings saying that people may get injured or killed by toppled vending machines.
Post Edited (2026-06-19 22:44)
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Author: RBlack
Date: 2026-06-19 23:22
I don’t recall the specifics, but there is the infamous “Rico reeds using pesticides” saga
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Author: kdk
Date: 2026-06-20 23:49
Yes - Bob Bernardo, who designed reeds for Rico, sued (I think) D'Addario, who had bought Rico, over claims that he had developed a number of pesticide-related illnesses from exposure to treated Rico reeds over the years.
Karl
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Author: farabout
Date: 2026-06-25 00:18
I could not find any public record about Bernardo v. Rico/D'Addario.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2026-06-25 01:22
The BBoard at one time had several threads about Bob's problems with pesticides in the cane. I don't remember if it was before the D'Addario buyout (2004?), but I suspect the reeds he designed and later complained about were Rico reeds, since they were manufactured near where he lives in California.
Karl
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Author: farabout
Date: 2026-06-25 04:39
My point is that there is no public record of any such lawsuit, which fact, by itself, casts a serious doubt on whether there ever has been any such litigation, regardless of the "several threads about Bob's problems with pesticides in the cane". Namely, I am talking about credibility...
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