If a tattoo artist does a poor job, can you sue them?
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If a tattoo artist does a poor job, can you sue them?
He did not have me sign a release form or even ask for my ID.
Asked on May 3, 2011 under Business Law, Illinois
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
First, there is no general need for a tatoo artist to have you sign a release form or for him to ask for your ID.
Second, while you can sue a tatoo artist for not doing what you hired them to do--e.g. not drawing the right picture, using color when you wanted black and white, putting the ink on the wrong body part--you can't sue just because you don't like the result. MAYBE is you could show it is completely unprofessional and would be unacceptable in all circumstances, you *might* have a cause of action; however, simply thinking it's a bad job doesn't go far enough. Tatoos are art; quality is subjective. Someone who buys art, whether body or wall, can't sue because he doesn't like it.
Third, if you were actually injured (e.g. picked up an infection), then you might have a cause of action for your injuries, medical care, etc.
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