I'm afraid this is poor example of pulling something from somewhere else, out of context, and it then getting out of hand. For the record...
It is true. The point is not that this can happen but that if you import something from someone who is not the official importer, distributor or retailer inside the EU, then you are liable. Insurance companies will take the liability to the official importers, distributors, etc. in order to pay the claim. If you bought the product outside the official importer, distributor, etc., then you are the importer, and you will be asked by the insurance company to settle the claim. It is then up to you to sue whoever you want to sue in order to get your money back. If you can afford the time and money...
This is not about the quality of the product, how the accident happened, or the rights and wrongs of what the Club did or did not do. It is a piece of information about what can now happen if you import something outside an official EU distribution network.
This is not a matter for debate. It will make no difference whatsoever what your opinion, or the opinion of your mate down the pub is, this is English Law. If you want to change the interpretation of the Law through a Judge's Precedent, then go right ahead.
In this case, the Club claimed against the BRCA Insurance, the Insurer asked who the importer was in order to claim against them, and when it was revealed that the person had bought them from the Far East, and not an EU official importer, distributor, etc. the insurance company put the claim on the individual as the importer.
Go ahead; whinge, bitch, come up with all the usual alternatives, quote anyone, but this is a fact, it is true, and it is being put out as a guide to all RC drivers of the possible risks. When you import outside the official network of a product's distributors, this is a potential risk. It is up to you whether you take that risk or not.
It would have been better if the person who started this thread had spent some time researching the source, and stating exactly the context in which it was posted. I hope this makes that context clear, and that with this information you will make your own decisions about where you buy things. HTH
