Thread: Has anyone had any legal issues with Halloween?

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I guess the only thing we can do it make sure all things are hidden. Like I'm sure since I'm doing an outside walk through, I'll need extenstion cords. I'll be duck tapeing them down to the side walk where the cord won't be visable. I'll fence off my yard so people can't just go through and claime they got hurt or tripped on a prop. We have to make it 100% safe. Really were doing this for the kids (at least I am) so there shoulden't be anything in any shape or form that could pottentially hurt someone. It is a good idea to take smaller groups through. Also to put signs other than Caution or Beware because those could be mistaken for actuall prop signs.

Video surrvalince is always good to. It will get exspensive but well worth it. If you do have video surrvalince, make sure it will cover your enitre haunt. Then if someone decided to sue you for something they did you would have proof. I'v wrote e-mails to The People Court and to Judge Judy asking what kind of legal tips they have and what can go down. As soon I get a response, I'll post it here and let everyone know.

The year before last we had a lady come up a well lit walk to the front door. The sidewalk curves just as you get to the stairs to come up to the front door, well she fell backwards off the sidewalk. I thought for sure ....this is it.......and I know that if we got sued my new hubby here would put a stop to my decorating. Thank God she was ok.

So it worries me every year. Last year was the worst because we had so many more people and we were stuck in the house ( they come thru our house). I was really worried with having no one outside to kind of watch & control things with all the stuff outside. We had a long line waiting to get in the house.

I know for sure this year we have to have some help......each year our numbers are growing so I'm already looking for volunteers to help out this season but yes I do worry about lawsuits.

Muffy

when my fam and i helped with the community haunt we had drunks come through every night. we got concerned when on drunk dragged his 5 yr old screaming and crying through on big kid night. he wouldnt let anyone watch over her, and we finally managed to duck her out the emergency exit when he doubled over to heave.

with the community haunt we almost had several lawsuits but people were laid back and didnt fight about it. the biggest concern was the 'trolley' which was really a straight ramp with a homemade 'car' that seated 6 people. the first year it was shoddy and only half the people rode it, but the second year it was great, until the track dislodged from the platform by 6 inches as the trolley went into motion. thankfully no one was hurt. everything got fixed and the rest of the night went on as planned.

Well, my main concern with drunkards... is if a drunk gets startled, that person would more than likely take a swing and hit someone else and there goes the domino effect. Last year was good, they weren't too drunk, just enjoyed my props mostly. We don't have anything quite like dogman ( a homemade car, sounds cool, got pics?) , but any persons front yard could turn disaterous........you guys have been great. Thank you for sharing your stories. We have always had some type of haunt, but like I said, it will be much larger this year so it adds to more concern than the usual "scare"

no worth while pics, but it was cool, people loved it.

thank god know one knew it didnt have worthy breaks, outside of the trolley 'driver's feet. there was a 2x4 lever with a rubber pad at the bottom but it didnt always work. but it stopped one way or another. if it didnt we would have definitely seen lawsuits.

Aside from the local zoning officer thinking I was erecting a real iron and stone columned fence without a permit (idiot-permit isn't necessary if the fence isn't on a boundry line), and the local police keeping a very close eye on my display on mischief night (for which I am grateful), no problems so far.

Thought I'd share, the magazine Things You Never Knew Existed has some security cameras and other stuff to help protect. I'm not sure how good it is. The pricing really isen't too bad. You could check there website too.

Oh and this Halloween - LETS NOT FORGET - Halloween is on a Friday which means that trick-or-treaters will be out longer this year and so will the little mischivious kids whom enjoy stealing and destroying things. Oh and someone mentioned the drunks - if you have a bar close to your house someone may get the bright idea to crash the party. Had one or two of these at our house in the past..

Originally Posted by icetross911

Oh and this Halloween - LETS NOT FORGET - Halloween is on a Friday which means that trick-or-treaters will be out longer this year and so will the little mischivious kids whom enjoy stealing and destroying things. Oh and someone mentioned the drunks - if you have a bar close to your house someone may get the bright idea to crash the party. Had one or two of these at our house in the past..

Theft has been a concern of ours with the more we add. Usually We take in character props leaving headstones out. With the addition of the coffin I'm building, more headstones, and speakers. We will use a High Wind Kit available Depot or Lowes.
It comes with (4) 2 foot ground anchors that you use piece of pipe to screw in to ground. (2) 30' 18 gauge wire, and (8) nut tighten looping clamps.
I hate to put Eyelet screws in Our wooden headstones, but We figure it's only a matter of time.

And if I catch anyone stealing, I'll use some nut tighten looping clamps on them.

Originally Posted by Hamm

And if I catch anyone stealing, I'll use some nut tighten looping clamps on them.

Then you could just add them to your display.

Finn