Court Claim Against NYC Craigslist

A Manhattan man was shot six times with a gun purchased on the popular classifieds website, craigslist.com. Now, Calvin Gibson, 50, is looking to unload both barrels on craigslist.com because he believes they’re partially responsible. His suit claims they failed to supervise and monitor the transaction and that had they done so, the shooter could never have acquired the gun to shoot him. A quick look at the site shows that they do post the following under the text link, “partial list of prohibited items”: Partial list of items for sale and services the advertisement of which is not permitted on craigslist: Weapons and related items, including but not limited to firearms, disguised, undetectable or switchblade knives, martial arts weapons, scopes, silencers, ammunition, ammunition magazines, BB guns, tear gas or stun guns. A free classifieds site can only do so much to "police its posts." I know for a fact that craigslist.com (New York City) does bounce inappropriate ads when the find them. It’s regrettable that Gibson was shot, but it’s a bit of a stretch to sue the website where his assailant bought the gun. And why stop there? Why not sue the computer manufacturer which enabled the gunman to find the ad? Or every manufacturer that made components for that computer? Or the electric company for providing the power? The telephone company for the connection. The shooter’s parents? Or the gun seller? Or the seller’s parents? And so on and so on and so on. Again, a complete and speedy recovery to Mr. Gibson. It’s important to remember however that there must be limits to liability, offline and online.