ORIGINAL: Top_Gunn
the second you take over the Transmitter you are now responsible , financially responsible , for anything that happens with that model aircraft . Yes sir , I DID ask a Lawyer this very question , showed him this very thread in fact , cause I was curious myself .
You need to find a better lawyer. I can't think of any legal rule that makes someone flying a model financially responsible for anything that happens with it. If you are negligent, sure. If you aren't, no. And negligence is a question of fact, to be determined by the jury.
Consider this example: right after you take over, the wings fall off the plane because of a construction flaw. Or someone else turns on the same frequency and you lose control. On no legal theory I know of could you be liable for any resulting damage.
Hmmm...are we mixing criminal law with civil law??? Just asking... since civil law is a minefield of nuances....otherwise known as a crap-shoot.
Yes, grabbing someone's transmitter, especially against their will, will expose you to liability...no way around that.