Who should use a Release? Its November Review your Release for Free Month

Because its November’s Review your release for free month I’m posting articles on Wednesday about Releases and why you should use them.

Anyone who offers activities to the public, where there are numerous risks outside of the control of the operator should use a release.

• Outfitters: business who offer outdoor trips to the public. Whether a hike down a trail to look at wildlife or to the top of Mt Everest to add to your resume.

Anyone who is offering products to the public which the public may not understand or may not be able to comprehend

• Demo’s: Whether a rep, retailer or manufacturer you want your products to be tested and tried. New products may require new skills or new ideas that your guests are not use too.
• Rental Programs: People rent when they want to have fun, want to try, or are interested in having a good time. All of these are done by people who may not have experience with the specific product you are renting.

Anyone who may be involved in a lawsuit do to the actions of someone you can’t control should use a release

• Retailers: a manufacture has sold you a new product. You have agreed to be the guinea pig on whether it works or sells. You should not be a guinea pig on the first lawsuit
• Manufactures: Promises made by sales come back to haunt risk management. If you are manufacturing a product that can be sold incorrectly, you don’t need to learn about it in a summons and complaint

Anyone placing products in the stream of commerce before they are finalized

• Testing: You have hired

Anyone who is offering products for a discount

• Season tickets at resorts or ski areas: you need to recoup your lowered cost by decreasing your insurance and claims costs.

Anyone takes students out of their normal environment to educate them.

• College & University programs: the student does not sue his or her parent or insurance company may. Learning may incorporate more that what you teach in the classroom, it may incorporate the courtroom.

Anyone who hires professional athletes to be a promoter of the product

• Sponsor: You want your product seen by everyone so you pay or provide the product to people to show it off. Showing off usually means bigger, higher, faster or deeper which all can lead to litigation.

Anyone who is taking people outside of their normal environment

• Inner city youth to the country
• Farm kids to large east coast cities
• Anyone taking anyone around animals

Anyone dealing with youth whose parents are not around and consider you a nice alternative to paid babysitters.

• Parents who drop their kids off, don’t know who you are, don’t understand what you are doing, and will never understand why their child was hurt.

If you are worried about being sued and you are located in a state where releases are upheld, you are offering a recreational service or opportunities to the public you might try using a release.

In an opportunity to help generate ideas and interest in this blog and the Outdoor Recreation and Fitness Law Review I am going to make everyone an offer you can’t refuse. During the month of November I am going to review your releases or acknowledgment of risk forms for free.

Stay tuned I’ll come up with the requirements and how the program is going to work, but it will be no cost to you (and hopefully no major headaches for me!)

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