SC - Re: Dishe of Snowe, LONG

[ChannonM@aol.com]

I'm lucky enough to live in a Kingdom with a small enough population base that
generally, as a feastocrat, I know who's allergic to what, who's vegetarian, who
can't have alcohol, etc. (at least at local events).  Like some, I try to post lists
or recipes if only to keep the hordes from coming in and asking, which can be
_really_ problematical in the small kitchens most of our sites have.  People have
been pretty good about asking re: specific ingredients, and I sure don't have any
problem letting them know far enough in advance that if there are problems, they can
bring their own food or whatever.
- --Maire

Christine A Seelye-King wrote:

> I wrote to a gentleman in our group, Master Cathal MacEdan, to ask him
> about the law regarding posting of feast ingredients.  Cathal has been
> Kingdom Seneschal, Society Steward, and was on the committee to name
> dirt.  We not-so-jokingly refer to him as the SCA Rules Lawyer.  He has
> also mundanely worked as an insurance adjuster.  As you can see from his
> reply below, I was mistaken about this being in our law.  His idea was
> that it may have come down from a former Kingdom Seneschal who had many
> food allergies.
>         Our correspondance:
>
> Dear Cathal,
> >       I don't know where my copy of Kingdom Law is, but I know you have
> yours close to hand ;)  I am under the impression that there is a
> provision in MKL about posting feast ingredients in their entirety in the
> hall.  Could you find this passage for me?
> >       Thank you,
> >       Christianna
>
>         If such a provision exists in MKL, then it must be written in
> lemon juice and readable only by candlelight.  I've reviewed both
> the March 1998 hard copy edition as well as the on-line version
> updated though 1/2000, and there is nothing to that effect.
>
> Cathal.
>
>         However, in talking about this to him later on, he put forward the
> opinion that if such a thing were to be legislated, it would put the
> group at an untenable risk as far as the insurance was concerned.  If you
> posted such a list, and then deviated from it for whatever reason, and
> that deviation resulted in someone eating something they considered safe
> (based on your published list) and having a reaction to the ingredient
> that got added at the last minute, you are now liable for a lawsuit.  If
> it is in writing in Kingdom or Society law, the umbrella of the group
> would be liable.  If not, the individual who did the posting and then
> deviating would be liable.  I questioned him specifically about this
> point.  I asked, if the group does not have it in writing, but as cooks
> we take it upon ourselves to encourage this practice as a Good Thing, we
> are still liable?  Yes, we are.  I pointed out to him that at least one
> other Kingdom did have it in Kingdom law, and he opined that it had not
> been put to this kind of a test yet.  Of course, this is the sort of
> thing you sign your waiver for, but we all know they aren't worth the
> paper they are printed on, you just cannot sign away your right to sue
> for damages.
>         So, the obvious answer being, post your list and don't deviate from it,
> but still, how concerned should we be/are we about the possible legal
> ramifications of this action?
>         This should stir up some lively conversation, which is good, things have
> gotten so quiet around here ;)
>         No flames please, but I do think this is a topic worth some serious
> consideration.  It is a shame we have to take such precautions, but with
> our litigious society, we can't afford not to.
>         Christianna
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