Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!decvax!decwrl!ucbvax!BRL.ARPA!abc
From: abc@BRL.ARPA.UUCP
Newsgroups: mod.legal
Subject: Re: Tax preparing software
Message-ID: <8606201513.AA27712@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Date: Fri, 20-Jun-86 10:34:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.8606201513.AA27712
Posted: Fri Jun 20 10:34:00 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 21-Jun-86 04:08:54 EDT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 16
Approved: info-law@brl.arpa


David Callahan asks,

	"...if an engineer designs a plane based on (an incorrect)
formula in a book, who is at fault?"

	I believe that the engineer is deemed at fault being, as David
says, an "expert" in the field and, therefore, presumable able to verify
the correctness or limitations of handbook formulas.

	Perhaps people who receive large fees for doing little more than
buying and installing a commercial computer program should be held
responsible in the same manner.  Perhaps this would cause them to be
careful to verify tools before using them.

Brint