Legal Question in Business Law in Washington

I own an LLC. My shipping adress is to what is colloaquially known as a Virtual Office. Basically a property management company provides conference room space for me, and a receptionist/office manager/building manger who signs for packages and mail, and answers my phones and takes messages. She does this for every business that has a virtual office there and is not my employee. Am i liable for anything she signs for that is shipped to my business? I have multiple employees with purchasing power and I am curious my risk if they were to order something illegal.


Asked on 10/19/10, 3:19 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Amir John Showrai The Pacific Law Firm, PLLC

First, yes, you are liable if your company, via one of your employees, orders something illegal and it is shipped to your office. If signing for it on behalf of your company is a separate crime (I'd have to think of a set of circumstances that fits this scenario) then yes, you are liable for the receptionist's signing for you as well.

Second, if this is really a concern, I suggest you deal with the problem at the source�your employees with purchasing power. Don't give them this power unless you have criminal background checks and credit checks performed on them. Make sure there is nothing in their histories that make this type of thing a concern. That does not make it a 100% guarantee that nothing will go wrong, but it at least minimizes your risk.

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Answered on 10/25/10, 7:17 am


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