Hacker News Reader

I wonder who advised them against reimbursing her... their lawyers? It seems like a no-brainer.

I've been fascinated with AirBnB. I'm taking a week-long vacation in August and have been considering listing my NYC apartment to help offset some vacation costs. Their response in this situation totally turned me off from the idea. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

View on HN

I will ask my lawyer girlfriend this question (IANAL), but based on previous conversations I've had with her, my bet would be that any reimbursement could be construed as an admission of guilt/liability, and could be used as evidence in a civil trial. (Consider the extra costs of a trial alone, plus the possibility of punitive damages for pain & suffering and whatnot if they lose.)

Your lawyer girlfriend would probably say that offers for settlement or reimbursement are usually not admissible as evidence of guilt.

I think the bigger problem is that if they reimburse this person they can set up an expectation that everyone will get reimbursed for damages to their home, and they cannot afford that.

Yes, correct. She said that it wouldn't constitute an admission of liability, just a bad precedent that could easily be abused.

Really? If they reimbursed her, wouldn't that make them liable for any other future incidents?

Reply on news.ycombinator.com