I don't think CL did anything wrong, a crime was committed using there web site to commit that crime. Just like guns don't kill people, people kill people. Craig's List has been used by so many criminals to do wrong, in many places and just about every perceivable way. I don't know what else they can do, other than the warnings they already post. Legally they may or may not be legally responsible in this case. In law a organization, companies, groups and individuals can be named as a "Party" in legal proceedings. What will more than likely occur, is a civil suit filed by this victims lawyer (I'm sure she will have no problem finding one of those). More than likely CL will be named in a civil suit as a party in this crime. Then a court will need to determine if CL has been negligent in any way, I'm sure CL has been named in many civil suits. I don't know how they have avoided not being named in many lawsuits, just knowing how many crimes that are committed through the use of their site.
My experience with CL is very limited, but the two times I tried to sell items. The new elective stove I listed on CL was very unproductive and a total waste of time for me. I obtained the stove and a lot of other brand new items in a settlement, a company owed me a lot of money and the items were part of a settlement. The stove was a new model, never used, no damage and was retailing for $900. I listed it on CL with all of the specs and information for $300. I did this twice, with a month in between each listing. I had so many calls about the stove, it was crazy. Almost all of the calls started with "would you take a lower amount of money" and the real problem was "can I come look at it". I couldn't believe how many people I showed this stove to and most would say "that's a really nice stove, but I thought it was going to be a gas one". I even had one guy show up, that said I thought it would be "free by now". Don't know how that happened, because in the phone conversations I had, I only gave my address out to people that said they were interested in buying a electric stove. I ended up selling it on a Saturday in a yard sale, it sold in the first couple of hours. I sold it to a young couple for $275 and they got a top of the line stove for a bargain price.
I say I'm out, when it comes to CL, based on my own experience, what I read here at SMF and the many bad news stories. For me it just seems to be not worth it. Not sure how CL makes revenue or how they keep going with all the bad publicity they receive with stories like this.
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