What is happening as the USA ProChallenge Gets Ready
Posted: July 16, 2013 Filed under: Cycling | Tags: Bike Racing, Colorado, Cycling, Fort Collins, Fort Collins Colorado, Mark Cavendish, Northern Colorado, Peter Sagan, Tour de France, USA ProChallenge Leave a comment
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Is a Photo Release valid when it is in a Release?
Posted: July 15, 2013 Filed under: New York, Racing, Release (pre-injury contract not to sue) | Tags: 10 Kilometer Run, Contract, Inc., Maureen S. Bateman, Model Release, New York, New York Marathon, New York Roadrunners Club, Perrier, Photo Release, Photograph Release, Release, Sport Photo and EMS, Summary judgment 1 CommentNew York court said maybe not.
Bateman v. Sport Photo and EMS, Inc., 1983 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15461 (S.D. New York 1983)
Plaintiff: Maureen S. Bateman
Defendant: Sport Photo and EMS, Inc.
Plaintiff Claims: Violation of New York Civil rights law §§ 50, 51 (misrepresentation of release signed to enter a road race)
Defendant Defenses: release and contract
Holding: for the plaintiff
This case is about a little clause found in numerous releases in the outdoor recreation industry. The clause is the photography release in the release.
In this case, the plaintiff signed the release to enter the New York Roadrunners Club (NYRRC) 10K road race. The plaintiffs photograph was assigned to the defendant who used it to advertise another race. The defendant was in the business of soliciting contestants to buy photographs when they ran a race.
The plaintiff found out about the use of her photograph when the defendant used it to attempt to market the New York Marathon.
Defendants’ employees take photographs of runners as they participate in a race. Thereafter, defendants obtain the names and addresses of the participants from the sponsor of the race, and mail the participants “proof cards” of the photograph along with an offer to sell them a color copy of the photograph. During the course of the Perrier 10K defendants took plaintiff’s photograph, which was subsequently purchased by plaintiff’s husband. Plaintiff does not object to the sending of the proof card or the sale of her photograph to her husband. Rather, plaintiff objects to the use of her photograph as part of an advertisement of defendants’ Special Poster Offer”. Almost 6,000 copies of the Special Poster Offer, including plaintiff’s photograph, were printed and mailed to participants in the 1981 New York Marathon.
The plaintiff sued over the issue. The defendant filed a motion for summary judgment which this court denied.
Summary of the case
The plaintiff argued there were two legal issues at stake:
…“whether plaintiff, by signing the so-called “release”, consented to the use of her photograph for advertising purposes unrelated to the event in which she was running; and second, whether there was a valid assignment by NYRRC to Sportphoto.”
Normally contracts are only interpreted by the language of the contract. No other evidence can be brought into to interpret the contract. Specific words in a contract are given the definition found in the contract, if not defined there, then as used in the industry or as defined by courts in other cases.
At issue was the interpretation of the word in the photo release, legitimate. In this case, however, the court found a different interpretation for the word “legitimate.” The defendants argued the word should be defined as found in a dictionary, which would be the definition that would normally be used.
Plaintiff responds, and the Court agrees, that the phrase should not be construed without reference to the “circumstances under which the entry blank was signed, and the purpose for which it was required – getting a number to run a race.
Releases under New York law are interpreted according to New York contract law.
The law is clear with respect to the interpretation of releases generally that their “meaning and coverage necessarily depend as in the case of contracts generally, upon the controversy being settled and upon the purpose for which the release was actually given. Certainly, a release may not be read to cover matters which the parties did not desire or intend to dispose of.”
The reason why the court stretched was based upon the plaintiff signed a release to race and also gave up her photographic rights.
The ultimate question in this case is whether, in light of all of the surrounding circumstances, the parties could reasonably have intended plaintiff’s signature on her entry blank to signify her consent to the use of her photograph for commercial purposes in connection with a different race a year and a half later; or whether, as plaintiff contends, the only use contemplated was promotional activity in connection with the race plaintiff was then entering.
The plaintiff raised valid issues, bordering on misrepresentation, about how her legal agreement was reached. “…the plaintiff here is an amateur athlete who signed a release for the sole purpose of entering a footrace.”
The court could find that whether the plaintiff intended to run a road race or give up her photo rights. “Thus, the present case raises factual questions concerning the intent of the parties and the proper interpretation to be given the release.”
The plaintiff also argued that the assignment between the NYRRC, and the defendant was invalid.
In both cases, the court stated that there was a genuine issue of fact that had to be reviewed by a jury.
So Now What
Like any clause in a contract or release, make sure if your guests want to read the release they have the opportunity to read the release.
You may want to identify the photo release with a bold heading so people cannot argue you tried to hide it.
I would also suggest that when you are going to use someone’s photograph you contact them and offer an incentive for using their release; a free trip, a discount, a T-shirt even. Most people if given the opportunity would love to have their photograph used. By providing your guests with some type of consideration (money) post contract you are at least going to find out how they feel and arguing you “paid” for the right to sue their photos.
This case has me wondering.
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Jim Moss is an attorney specializing in the legal issues of the outdoor recreation community. He represents guides, guide services, outfitters both as businesses and individuals and the products they use for their business. He has defended Mt. Everest guide services, summer camps, climbing rope manufacturers; avalanche beacon manufactures and many more manufacturers and outdoor industries. Contact Jim at Jim@Rec-Law.us |
Jim is the author or co-author of six books about the legal issues in the outdoor recreation world; the latest is Outdoor Recreation Insurance, Risk Management and Law.
To see Jim’s complete bio go here and to see his CV you can find it here. To find out the purpose of this website go here.
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Bateman v. Sport Photo and EMS, Inc., 1983 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15461 (S.D. New York 1983)
Posted: July 15, 2013 Filed under: Legal Case, New York, Racing, Release (pre-injury contract not to sue) | Tags: 10 Kilometer Run, Inc., Maureen S. Bateman, Model Release, New York, New York City, New York Marathon, New York Roadrunners Club, New York Supreme Court, Perrier, Photo Release, Photograph Release, Plaintiff, Release, Sport Photo and EMS, Summary judgment Leave a commentTo Read an Analysis of this decision see: Is a Photo Release valid when it is in a Release?
Bateman v. Sport Photo and EMS, Inc., 1983 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15461 (S.D. New York 1983)
Maureen S. Bateman, Plaintiff, against Sport Photo and EMS, Inc., Defendants.
No. 81 Civ. 4790 (MJL)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
1983 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15461
July 14, 1983
COUNSEL: [*1] J. DENNIS McGRATH, ESQ., 321 East 89th Street, New York, New York 10028, for plaintiff.
ROGERS & WELLS, 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166, for defendants.
OPINION BY: LOWE
OPINION
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
MARY JOHNSON LOWE, D. J.
This action, brought pursuant to New York Civil Rights Law Sections 50 and 51, was originally commenced in New York Supreme Court. The action was subsequently removed by the defendants to this Court. Plaintiff alleges that defendants used a photograph of her taken during the 1980 Perrier 10 Kilometer Run in New York Ciry, for advertising purposes, without her written consent, in violation of the above-mentioned statute. 1 Defendants have moved for summary judgment on the ground that plaintiff signed a release on her entry blank which gave the New York Roadrunners Club [“NYRRC”] and its assigns “full permission… to use any photographs, video tapes, motion pictures, recordings, or any other record of this event [the Perrier 10 Kilometer Run] for any legitimate purpose.” Defendants claim that NYRRC assigned the rights, acquired by virtue of plaintiff’s release, to Sportphoto for use in connection with Sportphoto’s business of soliciting [*2] mail order sales of photographs from contestants in competitive foot races.
1 Briefly stated, defendants’ business operates as follows. Defendants’ employees take photographs of runners as they participate in a race. Thereafter, defendants obtain the names and addresses of the participants from the sponsor of the race, and mail the participants “proof cards” of the photograph along with an offer to sell them a color copy of the photograph. During the course of the Perrier 10K defendants took plaintiff’s photograph, which was subsequently purchased by plaintiff’s husband. Plaintiff does not object to the sending of the proof card or the sale of her photograph to her husband. Rather, plaintiff objects to the use of her photograph as part of an advertisement of defendants’ Special Poster Offer”. Almost 6,000 copies of the Special Poster Offer, including plaintiff’s photograph, were printed and mailed to participants in the 1981 New York Marathon. (Evenson Dep. at 55).
Plaintiff argues that there are two major issues of material fact which preclude the granting of summary judgment in favor of defendants; first, whether plaintiff, by signing the so-called “release”, consented [*3] to the use of her photograph for advertising purposes unrelated to the event in which she was running; and second, whether there was a valid assigment by NYRRC to Sportphoto. The Court agrees that there are genuine issues of material fact in this case which render summary judgment inappropriate.
The parties’ dispute concerning the correct interpretation of the “release” centers around the use of the phrase “for any legitimate purpose”. Defendants argue that “legitimate” should be given its dictionary meaning, which would clearly encompass advertising and commercial purposes. Plaintiff responds, and the Court agrees, that the phrase should not be construed without reference to the “circumstances under which the entry blank was signed, and the purpose for which it was required – getting a number to run a race.” Plaintiff’s Op. Memo., at 20.
[HN1] The law is clear with respect to the interpretation of releases generally that their “meaning and coverage necessarily depend as in the case of contracts generally, upon the controversy being settled and upon the purpose for which the release was actually given. Certainly, a release may not be read to cover matters which the parties did [*4] not desire or intend to dispose of”. Cahill v. Regan, 5 N.Y.2d 292, 299, 184 N.Y.S.2d 348, 354, 157 N.E.2d 505, 510, quoted in Tarantola v. Williams, 48 AD 2 552 371 N.Y.S.2d 136, 139. The ultimate question in this case is whether, in light of all of the surrounding circumstances, the parties could reasonably have intended plaintiff’s signature on her entry blank to signify her consent to the use of her photograph for commercial purposes in connection with a different race a year and a half later; or whether, as plaintiff contends, the only use contemplated was promotional activity in connection with the race plaintiff was then entering. 2 The Court is convinced on the record before it that this question should be resolved by the trier of fact.
2 Plaintiff’s affidavit makes clear that if a photograph of her running in the Perrier 10K appeared in an article about that race, or if the sponsor of the race showed a video-tape of the race, in which plaintiff happened to appear she would deem those uses “legitimate” within the meaning of the release. Bateman Aff. P29.
This case is not, as defendants suggest, analagous to cases in which courts have broadly construed releases [*5] entered into by professional models and actors. Unlike the plaintiffs in those cases, who knowingly signed releases for commercial purposes in pursuit of their careers, the plaintiff here is an amateur athlete who signed a release for the sole purpose of entering a footrace. What constitutes a “legitimate use” of an individual’s photograph may vary from one context to another. Thus, the present case raises factual questions concerning the intent of the parties and the proper interpretation to be given the release.
Plaintiff also claims that there is a genuine issue of material fact with respect to whether defendants were the assignees of whatever rights NYRRC obtained by virtue of the entry blank “release”. Plaintiff acknowledges that there was a verbal agreement in 1979 (and renewed thereafter), between NYRRC and defendants giving defendants the exclusive right to take photographs of runners at the Perrier 10K for subsequent mail order sale. However, she argues that this agreement did not constitute an “assignment” of any rights on the entry blank; nor did it contemplate the use of one runner’s photograph for advertising directed at other runners.
Defendants maintain that [*6] in construing the agreement between NYRRC and defendants, the intent of the parties is controlling. They argue that in this case, the intent of the parties has been explicitly set out in the affidavits of Mr. Lebow, president of the NYRRC, and Mr. Evenson, president of defendants. Both Mr. Lebow and Mr. Evenson state that NYRRC intended to assign defendants the right to use runners’ photographs for all legitimate purposes, including advertising in connection with defendants’ business of selling photographs by mail. It is defendants’ position that in light of these clear expressions of intent, the assignment issue should be resolved as a matter of law.
Plaintiff argues that the rest of the evidence, including portions of Mr. Evenson’s own deposition testimony, contradicts the statements of Mr. Lebow and Mr. Evenson with respect to their intent at the time the agreement was reached, and thus raises a triable issue of fact. For example, Mr. Evenson testified during his deposition that he and Mr. Lebow never discussed the language of the entry blank “release”, the assignment of rights under the entry blank “release”, or the use of a participant’s photograph in the manner challenged [*7] herein, during negotiations for the agreement.Mr. Lebow testified that he could not recall whether these issues had been discussed. Defendants respond that the parties need not have anticipated or discussed every specific application of the agreement so long as the agreement was sufficiently broad to encompass those applications.
We find that the plaintiff has raised questions of credibility and intent which, even where the evidence weighs strongly in favor of one side, are better left to the trier of fact.
For the reasons stated above, defendants’ motion for summary judgment is hereby denied.
It is So Ordered.
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American Alpine Club looking for Special Volunteers and Interns
Posted: July 13, 2013 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: #AAC, American Alpine Club, American Alpine Club Library, American Alpine Journal, Digital Editor, Ernest Shackleton, Publications Intern Leave a commentWe’re Hiring a Volunteer
Editor and Intern
“Men wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful, honor and recognition in case of success…”
While we are not recruiting for anything as hazardous as Ernest Shackleton‘s expedition, we are looking for an extraordinary volunteer for a one-of-a-kind position and a talented intern.
Digital Editor
The AAC is seeking someone who is passionate about climbing and the documenation of new routes, expeditions, and accidents. We hope to find a dedicated, long-term volunteer for the new position of Digital Editor, helping AAC staff and other volunteers develop, populate, and curate the AAC’s new publications website, as well as new forms of digital storytelling. We won’t lie: There will be substantial grunt work involved. But you’ll also be a key leader and manager in shaping the future of the AAC’s digital information resources. If you love the AAJ and Accidents, and you love online information, this may be the volunteer opportunity of a lifetime. Previous experience with publishing on WordPress or similar platforms very important. Residence in metro Denver area helpful but not required. The time and flexibility for a significant commitment to AAC publications: essential. If this sounds appealing, contact Dougald MacDonald, AAC Executive Editor. Honor and recognition (and some cool perks, too) are guaranteed.
Publications Intern
Always dreamed of working on the American Alpine Journal or Accidents in North American Mountaineering? Want to learn print and digital publishing skills in the climbing industry? The Publications Intern will work among a dedicated team of climbers and editors to gain lifelong skills in multimedia journalism and publishing. While intern missions vary from day to day, the AAC gives interns the freedom to design work plans that support both the organization and their future aspirations. Interns must work from AAC headquarters in Golden, CO and commit 20 hours/week for four to six months. The Publications Intern position is unpaid; however, interns may receive college credit. Check out the complete description. Applicants should email their resume and cover letter to Erik Rieger, AAC Assistant Editor.
“Men wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful, honor and recognition in case of success…”
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Why did Everest Get Its Name
Posted: July 12, 2013 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: #AAC, American Alpine Club, American Alpine Club Library, Attorney at law, Everest, John Boyle, John Boyle Himalayan Collection, Mt. Everest, Recreation, Rock climbing Leave a commentJohn Boyle presentation July 23, 2013
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Colorado Department of Transportation new Share the Road Campaign
Posted: July 11, 2013 Filed under: Cycling | Tags: CDOT, Colorado, Colorado Department of Transportation, Front Range, Public safety, Share the road 1 Comment
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Keep customers and turn possible plaintiffs into PR teams for you
Posted: July 10, 2013 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Business Services, Customer Management, Customer service, Dealing with Disasters., Disasters, founder, Problems, Public relations, Risk Management, Robin Chase, why people sue, Zipcar Leave a commentDealing with a problem or a possible lawsuit is good customer service. Just keep it as customer service.
This article describes a major problem that Zipcar founder Robin Chase discovered and how she dealt with it.
Zipcar (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Basically, she found out that she had screwed up her pricing and had to increase her prices by 25%. She was panicked that she would lose this new company because her customers would leave. She sent out an email carefully explaining that she had screwed up, apologized and waited.
The next day she went to work not knowing if she would have any customers.
When I opened the door to the office, one of the employees flashed me the thumbs-up. We had 21 replies. Nineteen of them said, “You know, we thought it was way too cheap. We love the service–don’t worry about it.” Two people wrote angry letters. I called both, apologized, and explained that the company could not survive at those prices. Neither one quit. One even went on to become one of our biggest champions and did a lot of PR for us.
Think about it, a phone call took a mad customer and turned them into a champion for your business.
Zipcar is a success, now owned by Avis and so is Robin Chase!
This same issue works for injured people at your recreation program. Nothing changes when a guest is injured that they are now plaintiffs. If they have not changed, then why should we change or change how we deal with them.
1. Immediately deal with the problem.
2. Immediately solve the problem if you can.
3. If you can’t solve the problem, solve all the little irritating issues that you can.
4. Be honest
5. Don’ run away, don’t hide, don’t pass on the problem.
Deal with it!
See Robin Chase: How I Survived a Huge Screw-up
More ideas on dealing with disasters
10 Signs of Great Risk Management http://rec-law.us/sUzpHT
7 Mistakes Made by People who are called Defendant http://rec-law.us/stli09
Crisis Response http://rec-law.us/ul6Nrl
Reasons Why People Sue http://rec-law.us/uZ5RKR
Ten Commandments of Dealing with People in a Crisis http://rec-law.us/KoI8Xo
What do you think? Leave a comment.
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Copyright 2013 Recreation Law (720) Edit Law
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Help Save the Colorado River and maybe win a Raft Trip
Posted: July 9, 2013 Filed under: Youth Camps, Zip Line | Tags: Colorado River, OARS, Whitewater Rafting Leave a comment
Hello Friends of the Colorado River!Ready for some summer fun?! Today we are launching a photo contest, the winner of which will receive a free raft trip through the Gates of Lodore on the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument!
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Release saves riding school, even after defendant tried to show plaintiff how to win the case.
Posted: July 8, 2013 Filed under: Assumption of the Risk, California, Equine Activities (Horses, Donkeys, Mules) & Animals, Release (pre-injury contract not to sue) | Tags: CA, California, California law, correctly, Defendant, dismount, dive, Duty of care, equestrian, Equine, extreme departure, Gross negligence, Horse, horseback riding, inappropriate, Inc., inherently, instructor, Jim Moss, jumping, lesson, Manual, material fact, Mill Creek Equestrian Center, misconduct, Negligence, notice of appeal, Ordinary Negligence, Plaintiff, recommended, Release, rider, riding, ring, risks inherent, Sport, standard of conduct, Summary judgment, totally outside, training, triable issue, United States, willful Leave a commentAs an expert you just can’t state facts, you have to prove your facts.
Azad v. Mill Creek Equestrian Center, Inc., 2004 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 11218
Plaintiff: Nicole Azad
Defendant: Mill Creek Equestrian Center, Inc.
Plaintiff Claims: negligence and gross negligence
Defendant Defenses: Release
Holding: for the defendant
This is a horseback riding case. The plaintiff was a beginner rider taking lessons from the defendant. The defendant’s instructor placed her in the jumping ring for training. Another horse in the ring spooked, which spooked the horse the plaintiff was riding. The plaintiff’s horse jumped the ring fence. The plaintiff fell off breaking her leg.
The plaintiff had signed a release before starting the lessons. The release was well labeled stating on each page that it was a release. The release also had a notice right above the signature line indicating the signor was giving up their legal rights.
The release, however, specifically stated that it did not prevent claims for gross negligence.
The plaintiff sued for negligence and after getting educated by the defendant, for gross negligence. The trial court dismissed the case after the defendant filed a motion for summary judgment. The plaintiff appealed.
Summary of the case
On appeal the plaintiff claimed:
…there are material issues of fact regarding whether the release was clear and whether it exempted the challenged conduct. She also argues MCEC increased the risk to Azad beyond that inherent in horseback riding.
The court first looked at the validity of the release against a case argued by the plaintiff that found a release was insufficient. The court then only compared the release in this case to the arguments made in the case raised by the plaintiff.
The release was a two-page document. On the first page, it contained a titled, “LIABILITY RELEASE AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT.” On all other pages, it stated, “RIDING INSTRUCTION AGREEMENT AND LIABILITY RELEASE FORM.” Above the signature line, there was a statement that the signer was aware of the legal issues and acknowledgement of the legal issues.
The court found the release worked to stop claims of ordinary negligence but not gross negligence.
The court then reviewed California law on the duty owed by instructors in sports.
By consenting to participate in a sport that includes risks, a person consents to assume the risks inherent in the sport. A person does not consent to a breach of a duty by another that increases the risks inherent in the sport. “‘[A] purveyor of recreational activities owes a duty to a patron to not increase the risks inherent in the activity in which the patron has paid to engage. . . .'”
A sports instructor must intentionally injury a student or engages in conduct that is totally outside the range of ordinary activity to be liable. Other than those two issues, the participant assumes the risk of the sport.
… a sports instructor breaches a duty of care only “‘if the instructor intentionally injures the student or engages in conduct that is reckless in the sense that it is ‘totally outside the range of the ordinary activity.’
In this case, the plaintiff had not raised any issues or facts, other than statements of the plaintiff’s expert witness who could support a claim of gross negligence. The plaintiff’s expert alleged the actions of the defendant were grossly negligent but did not demonstrate any facts showing an “extreme departure from the ordinary standard of conduct.” The court also pointed out the plaintiff stated the instructor was inadequately trained but not support her statement with proof.
The court in stating there was not proof of gross negligence stated:
Gross negligence is defined as “‘”the want of even scant care or an extreme departure from the ordinary standard of conduct.”‘” This definition is similar to the standard employed in Kahn – conduct totally outside the range of ordinary activity.
The court upheld the dismissal of the plaintiff’s complaint.
So Now What?
This release had 2 great points. The title and the heading on each page said this is a release. I’ve continuously stated that you cannot hide your release in other documents. It must be presented as a release to the signor and must plainly set forth the signor is giving up their legal rights.
However, don’t help the plaintiff sue you? Here the release said this document is no good if you prove I was grossly negligent. So what did the plaintiff need to do, prove gross negligence to win.
The facts of the case were pretty tame, and the injury to the plaintiff was relatively minor.
The court did look at what it would take to prove gross negligence from reviewing other cases. One was having a manual and showing an extreme departure from the manual.
If you write it down as the “way,” you better follow it.
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Jim Moss is an attorney specializing in the legal issues of the outdoor recreation community. He represents guides, guide services, outfitters both as businesses and individuals and the products they use for their business. He has defended Mt. Everest guide services, summer camps, climbing rope manufacturers; avalanche beacon manufactures and many more manufacturers and outdoor industries. Contact Jim at Jim@Rec-Law.us |
Jim is the author or co-author of six books about the legal issues in the outdoor recreation world; the latest is Outdoor Recreation Insurance, Risk Management and Law.
To see Jim’s complete bio go here and to see his CV you can find it here. To find out the purpose of this website go here.
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Azad v. Mill Creek Equestrian Center, Inc., 2004 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 11218
Posted: July 8, 2013 Filed under: Assumption of the Risk, California, Equine Activities (Horses, Donkeys, Mules) & Animals, Legal Case, Release (pre-injury contract not to sue) | Tags: Appeal, Assumption of risk, Azad, Bruno, California Courts of Appeal, correctly, dismount, dive, equestrian, Equestrianism, extreme departure, Gross negligence, Horse, horseback riding, inappropriate, inherently, instructor, jumping, lesson, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Manual, material fact, misconduct, notice of appeal, Ordinary Negligence, recommended, rider, riding, ring, risks inherent, Sport, standard of conduct, Summary judgment, totally outside, training, triable issue, willful Leave a commentTo Read an Analysis of this decision see: Release saves riding school, even after the defendant tried to show the plaintiff how to win the case.
Azad v. Mill Creek Equestrian Center, Inc., 2004 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 11218
Nicole Azad, Plaintiff and Appellant, v. Mill Creek Equestrian Center, Inc., Defendant and Respondent.
B169611
COURT OF APPEAL OF CALIFORNIA, SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT, DIVISION EIGHT
2004 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 11218
December 13, 2004, Filed
NOTICE: [*1] NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS. CALIFORNIA RULES OF COURT, RULE 977(a), PROHIBIT COURTS AND PARTIES FROM CITING OR RELYING ON OPINIONS NOT CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION OR ORDERED PUBLISHED, EXCEPT AS SPECIFIED BY RULE 977(B). THIS OPINION HAS NOT BEEN CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION OR ORDERED PUBLISHED FOR THE PURPOSES OF RULE 977.
PRIOR HISTORY: APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, No. SC070887. Paul G. Flynn, Judge.
DISPOSITION: Affirmed.
COUNSEL: Law Offices of Diane Goldman and Diane Goldman for Plaintiff and Appellant.
Clinton & Clinton, David A. Clinton and Katherine M. Fesler for Defendants and Respondents.
JUDGES: COOPER, P. J.; RUBIN, J., FLIER, J. concurred.
OPINION BY: COOPER
OPINION
Appellant injured herself falling off a horse during a horseback riding lesson. In this appeal, she challenges the award of summary judgment entered in favor of the equestrian center. Reviewing the record de novo, we find Azad released all claims other than gross negligence and willful misconduct. She does not allege any willful misconduct. Because she provides no evidence of gross negligence, the trial court correctly entered summary judgment. We shall affirm.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
[*2] The facts interpreted in the light most favorable to Azad indicate the following. On March 16, 2001, Nicole Azad, an inexperienced rider, had a private horseback riding lesson at Mill Creek Equestrian Center, Inc. (MCEC). Prior to her lesson, she signed a release of liability, which was part of a two page document. Each page of the release contained a heading identifying it as a release.
During Azad’s lesson, she rode a horse named Bruno and was instructed by Sandra Samel. Samel chose to hold the lesson in a ring known as the jumping ring even though it was not the ring commonly used for beginning lessons. At the same time as Azad’s lesson, other riders were in the jumping ring including Courtney Leonard. Leonard rode a horse named Dan, who had been injured. Leonard fell off Dan, and Dan started running. In response to Dan, Bruno started running. Azad was unable to gain control over Bruno. Samel did not instruct Azad to immediately dismount and did not grab Bruno’s reins. Bruno jumped the fence, which was not as high as the standard in the industry. Azad fell off Bruno and fractured her leg.
Azad’s expert, Jill Cooke, opined that the height of the railings in the jumping ring [*3] ranged from two to two and a half feet where industry standard was three and a half feet. Cooke also concluded that “separated schooling areas are recommended.” According to Cooke, Samel should have chosen a different ring for Azad’s lesson, one dedicated to inexperienced riders. Cooke also concluded that Samel should have instructed Azad to dismount Bruno and should have held Bruno’s reigns. Cooke opined that “Ms. Samel’s failure to act promptly and appropriately to protect her student thereby created new risk to [Ms. Azad], over and above those inherent in the sport.”
PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Azad filed a complaint for negligence against MCEC and alleged that MCEC committed both negligence and gross negligence. MCEC moved for summary judgment.
The trial court granted MCEC’s motion for summary judgment. The court found that Azad’s express waiver was valid and that the assumption of risk doctrine applied. Azad appealed. The notice of appeal was filed after the order granting summary judgment but before judgment was entered. Construing the notice of appeal liberally, we deem this an appeal from the judgment which was subsequently entered. (Levy v. Skywalker Sound (2003) 108 Cal.App.4th 753, 761, fn 7.) [*4]
DISCUSSION
Azad argues there are material issues of fact regarding whether the release was clear and whether it exempted the challenged conduct. She also argues MCEC increased the risk to Azad beyond that inherent in horseback riding.
I. Express Assumption of Risk
Prior to her horse back riding lesson, Azad signed the following release:
“I agree that in consideration for this stable allowing my participation in this activity, under the terms set forth herein and in the MILL CREEK RULES AND REGULATIONS of which I received a copy, read, and understand, I the rider and the parent or legal guardian thereof if a minor, and on behalf of my heirs, administrators, personal representative or assigns, do agree to hold harmless, release and discharge MILL CREEK EQUESTRIAN CENTER, its owners, agents, employees, officers, directors, representatives, assigns, members, owner(s) of premises and trails, affiliated organizations, insurers, and others acting on its behalf (hereinafter collectively referred to as associates) of and from all claims, demands, causes of action and legal liability whether the same be known or unknown, anticipated or unanticipated, due to MILL CREEK [*5] EQUESTRIAN CENTER’S and/or its associates ordinary negligence; and I do further agree that except in the event of MILL CREEK EQUESTRIAN CENTER’S gross negligence and willful and wanton misconduct, I shall not bring any claims, demands, legal actions and causes of action against MILL CREEK EQUESTRIAN CENTER and ITS ASSOCIATES as stated above in this clause, for any economic and non-economic losses due to bodily injury, death, property damage sustained by me and/or my minor child and/or legal ward in relation to the premises and operations of MILL CREEK EQUESTRIAN CENTER to include while riding, handling, or otherwise being near horses owned by or in the care, custody and control of MILL CREEK EQUESTRIAN CENTER, whether on or off the premises of MILL CREEK EQUISTRIAN CENTER. I further understand that all riding engaged in at MILL CREEK EQUESTRIAN CENTER is solely at my own risk and that MILL CREEK EQUESTRIAN CENTER is not liable for any injury which may occur to me on its premises, whether bodily injury or otherwise. I further agree to release MILL CREEK EQUESTRIAN CENTER, its agents and employees from any and all liability for any injuries I may sustain while riding and agree to [*6] indemnify and hold MILL CREEK EQUESTRIAN CENTER harmless as to all claims, actions, damages, costs and expenses, including attorney’s fees, arising therefrom. [P] The aforesaid release and limitation of liability includes, without limitation, any obligations of MILL CREEK EQUESTRIAN CENTER with respect to consequential damage and negligent behavior of any of its employees. . . .” (Emphasis added.)
A. Validity of the Release
Citing Conservatorship of Estate of Link (1984) 158 Cal. App. 3d 138, 141-142, 205 Cal. Rptr. 513 (Link), Azad argues that the release is not enforceable because it is not readily identifiable as a release. In Link, the court found that a release should be distinguished from other paragraphs of the document; a release should be conspicuous; and a release must clearly convey that rights are being released. (Ibid.)
The release satisfies the Link criteria. It contains the title “LIABILITY RELEASE AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT.” Each page of the two page document contains a heading which is printed in bold print and underlined “RIDING INSTRUCTION AGREEMENT AND LIABILITY RELEASE FORM.” Above the signature line, in a paragraph [*7] titled “signer statement of awareness,” there is an acknowledgment of understanding the liability release, which Azad signed. Unlike in Link, the release does not appear to be “calculated to conceal and not to warn the unwary.” (Link, supra, 158 Cal. App. 3d at p. 141.)
Azad claims that it is not clear “what conduct is exempted from liability.” She faults the release for “simultaneously purporting to encompass claims based upon [ordinary negligence] and excluding claims based upon [gross negligence].” Azad points out that, in Continental Ins. Co. v. American Protection Industries (1987) 197 Cal. App. 3d 322, 242 Cal. Rptr. 784, a case not involving a release, the court held “in light of the adoption of the doctrine of comparative negligence in California, any attempt to categorize gross negligence separately from ordinary negligence is unnecessary.” (Id. at p. 330.) Continental Insurance Co., however, did not hold that the distinction between ordinary and gross negligence never is relevant or is inherently ambiguous. To the contrary, it recognized that the distinction remained viable where a statute proscribes gross negligence. [*8] (Id. at p. 329.) The express contractual provision distinguishing between ordinary and gross negligence is not inherently ambiguous.
Thus, the release covers conduct other than gross negligence and intentional misconduct. 1 Azad does not allege intentional misconduct. In the next section, we consider whether Azad has provided any evidence of gross negligence.
1 MCEC argues that the “Release was specific enough to warn Appellant, and to convey that Respondents would not be held liable for any physical injury to Appellant.” While the release discusses liability for “any injury” it expressly excludes “gross negligence and willful and wanton misconduct.”
II. Implied Assumption of Risk
By consenting to participate in a sport that includes risks, a person consents to assume the risks inherent in the sport. (Knight v. Jewett (1992) 3 Cal.4th 296, 311.) A person does not consent to a breach of a duty by another that increases the risks inherent in the sport. (Ibid.) [*9] “‘[A] purveyor of recreational activities owes a duty to a patron to not increase the risks inherent in the activity in which the patron has paid to engage. . . .'” (Kahn v. East Side Union High School Dist. (2003) 31 Cal.4th 990, 1005 (Kahn).)
In Kahn, supra, 31 Cal.4th at p. 996, our high court considered the doctrine of assumption of the risk in the context of a lawsuit against a swimming instructor. The court held that a sports instructor breaches a duty of care only “‘if the instructor intentionally injures the student or engages in conduct that is reckless in the sense that it is ‘totally outside the range of the ordinary activity.'” (Ibid.) The court further found evidence of reckless conduct sufficient to raise a triable issue of material fact where a swim coach required a student to dive into a shallow pool without providing her any training, after promising she would not be required to dive. (Id. at p. 996.) The court specifically relied on the following evidence: “the lack of training in the shallow-water dive disclosed by plaintiff’s evidence, especially in the face of the sequences training recommended in the [*10] Red Cross manual submitted by plaintiff; the coach’s awareness of plaintiff’s deep-seated fear of such diving; his conduct in lulling her into a false sense of security through a promise that she would not be required to dive, thereby eliminating any motivation on her part to learn to dive safely; his last-minute breach of that promise under the pressure of a competitive meet; and his threat to remove her from the team or at least the meet if she refused to dive.” (Id. at p. 1012.)
Here, Azad has alleged gross negligence on the part of both her instructor and the equestrian center. Gross negligence is defined as “‘”the want of even scant care or an extreme departure from the ordinary standard of conduct.”‘” (Eastburn v. Regional Fire Protection Authority (2003) 31 Cal.4th 1175, 1185-1186, quoting Franz v. Board of Medical Quality Assurance (1982) 31 Cal.3d 124, 138, 181 Cal. Rptr. 732.) This definition is similar to the standard employed in Kahn – conduct totally outside the range of ordinary activity. Therefore, we consider whether Azad has provided any evidence of an extreme departure from the ordinary standard of conduct. [*11] 2
2 Both parties cite numerous cases decided under an ordinary negligence standard, including this division’s decision in Giardino v. Brown (2002) 98 Cal.App.4th 820. We need not assess the applicability of these cases in light of Kahn because here Azad expressly released claims of ordinary negligence.
Azad relies almost exclusively on evidence from her expert, Cooke. However Cooke’s testimony does not demonstrate an extreme departure from the ordinary standard of conduct. Cooke states that the railing should have been higher, it was “recommended” that a ring be used for only one lesson, the choice of rings was “inappropriate,” and Samel’s response was “inappropriate.” Samel should have “immediately had her student dismount.” Cooke also states that Samel was “inadequately trained,” but provides no basis for this conclusion. Thus, this case is not like Kahn, where the plaintiff provided an established training manual and showed an extreme departure from this manual in that there was [*12] evidence she received no training at all. Because Azad identifies no extreme departure from the ordinary standard of conduct, she fails to raise a triable issue of material fact. The trial court correctly entered summary judgment in favor of MCEC. (Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 850.)
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
COOPER, P. J.
We concur:
RUBIN, J.
FLIER, J.
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Happy Birthday to His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Posted: July 6, 2013 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 14th Dalai Lama, Buddhism, Bylakuppe, China, Dalai Lama, India, Religion and Spirituality, Tibet, x, y, z Leave a comment
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A very happy birthday to New Outdoor Books from Keen Communications
Posted: July 5, 2013 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Big Sur, google, Keen Communications, Mike Jones, Silver Peak Wilderness, Ventana Double Cone, Ventana Wilderness, Wilderness Press, x, y, z Leave a comment
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Make sure you understand what the other side is saying
Posted: July 2, 2013 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: google, Law, Listen, Problem, Problem solving, Resolution, Social network, Symptoms, Understanding Leave a commentSolving problems means listening and understanding first, solving the problem second.
As an attorney, I was trained to solve the problem. Ignore the symptoms and just solve the problem. However, that does not work outside of the law. In fact, if you follow that idea, you can turn a problem into a legal problem.
What do you need to do?
1. Listen
2. Make sure you understand.
You may not be able to solve the problem, but you can go a long way in smoothing the situation if you listen to the symptoms.
People just want you to care.
The first step in listening is making sure you understand what the person is saying. Ask questions to make sure you understand and to show you are trying to understand.
How often have you left a conversation and thought you understood what you need to do, only to find out later you either did not understand or did something that was no longer needed because you did not realize you needed to listen, not respond.
Listen first, and then respond.
Many times a person just needs to vent or have someone listen to them. Listening may solve the problem.
What do you think? Leave a comment.
If you like this let your friends know or post it on FaceBook, Twitter or LinkedIn
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Louisiana does not allow the use of a release so great training of its patrons saved this climbing wall.
Posted: July 1, 2013 Filed under: Climbing Wall, Louisiana | Tags: belay, Climbing, Defendant, Grigri, Indoor, Louisiana, Recreation, Rock climbing 1 CommentEducation saves the day.
Ravey v. Rockworks, LLC, Et Al. 12-1305 (La.App. 3 Cir. 04/10/13); 2013 La. App. LEXIS 720
Plaintiff: Carl Ravey
Defendant: Rockworks, LLC, Colony Specialty Ins. Co.
Plaintiff Claims:
1. There is an increased duty to provide training and supervision when minors are involved in an inherently dangerous activity.
2. There are genuine issues of material fact regarding the adequacy of training received by the plaintiff party prior to engaging in a hazardous activity and regarding the adequacy of the supervision provided after training.
Defendant Defenses:
Holding: For the Defendant
The more you educate your guests the greater your success at a great trip and a win in court.
This case was based on a Civil Air Patrol Group (CAP) going to a climbing gym as part of its training. The CAP is composed of adults and minors; the plaintiff in this case was an adult in the group. The group went to the defendant’s climbing facilities as part of its training.
The participants paid the individual fees and then attended a 15-20-minute group training with an employee of the climbing wall. After the group training, the participants received training in pairs as belayer and climber. After that training, the belayer and climber were supervised. The plaintiff had climbed 5-6 times before he fell. The belayer was using a GriGri and held the brake open. The belayer released the break lever catching the plaintiff but not before he broke his leg.
The belayer for the plaintiff was 14 at the time of the accident.
The plaintiff brought a suit for negligence, which was dismissed after the defendant filed a motion for summary judgment.
Summary of the case
The first issue was whether the defendant owed the plaintiff a heightened duty of care because a minor was belaying him and/or because climbing is an inherently dangerous activity. The court then looked at what is required to prove negligence in Louisiana: “….a plaintiff must prove five separate elements: (1) duty, (2) breach, (3) cause-in-fact, (4) scope of duty/scope of risk, and (5) actual damages.”
The elements are basically the same as in any other state; they are just further identified and broken down into five requirements rather than the normal four in Louisiana. Most other states define negligence as duty, breach of duty, injury, damages proximately caused to the breach.
The court also explained the elements of duty in Louisiana.
Duty is a question of law. Simply put, the inquiry is whether the plaintiff has any law–statutory, jurisprudential, or arising from general principles of fault–to support his claim. The duty owed to an invitee “is that of reasonable and ordinary care, which includes the prior discovery of reasonably discoverable conditions of the premises that may be unreasonably dangerous, and correction thereof or a warning to the invitee of the danger
This duty necessarily includes a general responsibility to ensure that their members know how to properly use gym equipment.
The court did state that rock climbing is an “unreasonably dangerous activity” that requires a heightened duty upon the part of the gym owner. However, proof of that is evidenced of failing to provide the required supervision which has causation with the lack of supervision and the accident. Gyms are not the insurers of the safety of the patrons.
To prove negligence on the part of Rok Haus [defendant], Ravey [plaintiff] must show both a failure to provide reasonable training and supervision under the circumstances, as well as proof of a causal connection between this lack of reasonable training/supervision and the accident.
The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of reasonable care. That was met, in the eyes of the court by the plaintiff.
The equipment was visually inspected prior to usage and was functioning properly after the incident. Ravey and Kelley [plaintiff and belayer] were given proper instructions on how to climb the wall and use the equipment properly. Ravey and Kelley were also observed using the equipment to lower climbers properly before they were allowed to climb and belay by themselves. During the time the group was climbing prior to the accident, two Rok Haus [defendant] employees observed the group to ensure they were using the gym’s equipment properly. Ravey made five or six successful climbs on the wall of the gym prior to the accident.
The next issue was whether the trainings the plaintiff and belayer received were adequate. Again, the court referred to the same set of facts.
The belayers must then operate the rope and the Grigri under the supervision of an instructor. After demonstrating an ability to belay the instructor, the belayers are allowed to belay volunteer climbers in the group under the supervision of the instructor.
This safety training session lasted approximately fifteen to twenty minutes. The members of the Civil Air Patrol group were individually instructed in safe climbing and belaying techniques and were observed operating the equipment properly before being allowed to climb and belay on their own. After receiving their safety training in the proper methods of belaying, Ravey, Kelley, and the rest of the Civil Air Patrol group climbed for forty-five minutes to an hour. During this time, two supervisors were present who observed the group to ensure that they were using the gym’s equipment properly. Ravey made five or six climbs on the wall prior to his accident.
The court stated that rock climbing involved substantial risk as a recreational activity. However, that risk was no different from weight lifting or swimming. The duty of the gym owner is to provide a “sound and secure” environment for undertaking any risk activity. There is no requirement to insure against any accident or injury.
The plaintiff could not point to any authority stating that a 14-year-old could not belay or any fact indicating the gym had not provided enough training. Consequently, the court upheld the dismissal of the complaint.
So Now What?
Here the climbing gym won because they had thoroughly trained the participants in climbing, belaying and the procedures of the gym. It also helped that the plaintiff had been belayed successfully 5-6 times prior to the incident which caused his injury.
The plaintiff also could not point out anything that the gym had done or failed to do that contributed to the injury. The training showed the participants how to belay; the belayer simply failed to use the belay device properly.
Education is what will save you. The more you educate your guests the more fun they will have. The more you educate your guests the safer they will be. The more you educate your guests the more prepared they will be. The more you educate your guests, the greater the chance you can prove you did not do anything wrong. The more you educate your guests the more you can prove your guests knew and undertook the risks.
What do you think? Leave a comment.
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By Recreation Law Rec-law@recreation-law.com James H. Moss #Authorrank
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Ravey v. Rockworks, LLC, Et Al. 12-1305 (La.App. 3 Cir. 04/10/13); 2013 La. App. LEXIS 720 (La. App. 2013)
Posted: July 1, 2013 Filed under: Climbing Wall, Legal Case, Louisiana | Tags: Civil Air Patrol, Grigri, Louisiana, United States district court, University of Louisiana Leave a commentRavey v. Rockworks, LLC, Et Al. 12-1305 (La.App. 3 Cir. 04/10/13); 2013 La. App. LEXIS 720
Carl Ravey v. Rockworks, LLC, Et Al.
12-1305
Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit
12-1305 (La.App. 3 Cir. 04/10/13); 2013 La. App. LEXIS 720
April 10, 2013, Decided
NOTICE:
THIS DECISION IS NOT FINAL UNTIL EXPIRATION OF THE FOURTEEN DAY REHEARING PERIOD.
PRIOR HISTORY: [*1]
APPEAL FROM THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, NO. C-20113689. HONORABLE GLENNON P. EVERETT, DISTRICT JUDGE.
DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED.
COUNSEL: Michael J. Remondet, Jr., Jeansonne & Remondet, Lafayette, LA, COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANTS/APPELLEES: Rockworks, LLC, Colony Speciality Ins. Co.
Kilyun Luke Williamson, Williamson, Fontenot & Campbel, Baton Rouge, LA, COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFFS/APPELLANTS: Carl Ravey.
JUDGES: Court composed of John D. Saunders, Billy Howard Ezell, and Shannon J. Gremillion, Judges.
OPINION BY: JOHN D. SAUNDERS
OPINION
SAUNDERS, J.
This case involves a suit by the patron of a rock climbing facility against the facility for negligence in training and supervision. The trial court granted the facility’s motion for summary judgment and dismissed the suit. We affirm.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY:
On August 14, 2010, Plaintiff-Appellant, Carl Ravey (“Ravey”), as a mentor for youth, was visiting Lafayette, Louisiana with the Civil Air Patrol, which operates out of Ascension Parish, Louisiana. The Civil Air Patrol is comprised of children aged twelve to eighteen. The group was in Lafayette for a training exercise at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. While in Lafayette, the group of sixteen young men and [*2] women, with their adult chaperones, and with a Civil Air Patrol Unit from Hammond, Louisiana, visited Rok Haus to use the climbing facilities.
Upon their arrival, the participants paid their individual fees and initiated a group safety training exercise with Adelle Anderson (“Anderson”), one of the employees at Rok Haus that evening. The attendees received training and instruction on climbing safety and the safe use of climbing equipment in a fifteen to twenty minute safety meeting known as a “belay check.” Every climber at Rok Haus is harnessed and equipped with a safety rope, which is attended to and operated by a “belayer,” who controls the safety rope through a locking device known as a Grigri. The belayer’s job is to look after the climber’s ropes and to operate the Grigri. In order to release the rope to allow a climber to descend, the belayer must pull a lever on the side of the Grigri.
Following safety training, Ravey began to climb the rock wall while tethered to his belayer, David Kelley (“Kelley”), a fourteen-year-old member of the Civil Air Patrol. The group climbed for approximately forty-five minutes when Ravey, [Pg 2] upon reaching the top of the wall, a distance of approximately [*3] twenty to twenty-four feet from the ground, fell almost all the way to the ground. He was partially suspended, but fell far enough such that his leg impacted the floor and was injured. As Ravey fell, the safety rope fed freely through the locking device indicating that Kelley was holding the lever in the open position. When Kelley released the lever, the Grigri locking device engaged and the rope arrested Ravey’s fall, but Ravey’s leg had already made contact with the floor and was injured.
Ravey brought this action alleging negligence on the part of Rok Haus and its affiliates/insurer. Rok Haus filed a motion for summary judgment alleging no duty was breached on the part of Rok Haus and that there was no genuine issue of material fact so judgment was proper as a matter of law. The trial court granted the motion for summary judgment and dismissed Ravey’s claims. Ravey appeals.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR:
Ravey sets forth the following assignments of error:
1. The trial court erred in granting the motion for summary judgment as there is an increased duty to provide training and supervision when minors are involved in an inherently dangerous activity.
2. The trial court erred in granting the motion [*4] for summary judgment as there are genuine issues of material fact regarding the adequacy of training received by the Ravey party prior to engaging in a hazardous activity and regarding the adequacy of the supervision provided after training.
LAW AND ANALYSIS:
Standard of Review
[HN1] When an appellate court reviews a district court’s judgment on a motion for summary judgment, it applies the de novo standard of review, “using the same criteria that govern the trial court’s consideration of whether summary judgment is [Pg 3] appropriate, i.e., whether there is a genuine issue of material fact and whether the mover is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Supreme Serv. & Specialty Co., Inc. v. Sonny Greer, 06-1827, p. 4 (La. 5/22/07), 958 So.2d 634, 638.
[HN2] A motion for summary judgment shall be granted when “the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admission on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue of material fact, and that the mover is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” La.Code Civ.P. art. 966. “[I]f reasonable persons could only reach one conclusion, then there is no need for trial on that issue and summary judgment is appropriate.” [*5] Hines v. Garrett, 04-806, p. 1 (La. 6/25/04), 876 So.2d 764, 765-66 (quoting Smith v. Our Lady of the Lake Hosp., Inc., 93-2512, p. 27 (La. 7/5/94), 639 So.2d 730, 751). A fact is “material” when “its existence or nonexistence may be essential to plaintiff’s cause of action under the applicable theory of recovery.” Smith, 639 So.2d at 751.
1. Heightened Duty
The first issue raised on appeal deals with the issue of negligence on the part of Rok Haus. [HN3] In order for liability to attach under a duty-risk analysis, a plaintiff must prove five separate elements: (1) duty, (2) breach, (3) cause-in-fact, (4) scope of duty/scope of risk, and (5) actual damages. Pinsonneault v. Merch. & Farmers Bank & Trust Co., 01-2217 (La. 4/3/02), 816 So.2d 270.
[HN4] “Duty is a question of law. Simply put, the inquiry is whether the plaintiff has any law–statutory, jurisprudential, or arising from general principles of fault–to support his claim.” Faucheaux v. Terrebonne Consol. Government, 615 So.2d 289, 292 (La.1993). The duty owed to an invitee “is that of reasonable and ordinary care, which includes the prior discovery of reasonably discoverable conditions of the premises that may be unreasonably dangerous, [*6] and correction thereof or a warning to the invitee of the danger.” Alexander v. Gen. Acc. Fire & [Pg 4] Life Assur. Corp., 98 So.2d 730, 732 (La.App. 1 Cir. 1957). “[M]embers of [gyms] are owed a duty of reasonable care to protect them from injury on the premises.” Thomas v. Sport City, Inc., 31,994 (La.App. 2 Cir. 06/16/99), 738 So.2d 1153, 1157. “This duty necessarily includes a general responsibility to ensure that their members know how to properly use gym equipment.” Id.
Ravey argues that rock climbing at Rok Haus is an unreasonably dangerous activity such that it requires a heightened duty. In support of this argument, he cites Prier v. Horace Mann Ins. Co., 351 So.2d 265 (La.App. 3 Cir. 1977), writ denied, 352 So.2d 1042 (La.), where the court found that a greater degree of care must be exercised by a school if a student uses an inherently dangerous object or engages in an activity where it is reasonably foreseeable that an accident or injury may occur.
In Prier, the court stated that [HN5] a teacher could not be “liable in damages unless it is shown that he or she, by exercising the degree of supervision required by the circumstances, might have prevented the act which caused the damage, [*7] and did not do so.” Prier, 351 So.2d at 268. “It is also essential to recovery that there be proof of negligence in failing to provide the required supervision and proof of a causal connection between that lack of supervision and the accident.” Id. It further explained:
Again, the school board cannot foresee and guard against all the dangers incident to the rashness of children. It is not the insurer of the lives or safety of children. The school board, through the principals and/or the teachers, are expected to take reasonable precautions and care to avoid injury to the students.
Id at 269 (quoting Whitfield v. East Baton Rouge Parish Sch. Bd., 43 So.2d 47 (La.App. 1 Cir. 1949)).
[HN6] As with school boards, gyms are not the insurers of the lives or safety of the patrons of the club. See Gatti v. World Wide Health Studios of Lake Charles, Inc., [Pg 5] 323 So.2d 819 (La.App. 2 Cir. 1975). A gym cannot be expected to foresee or guard against all dangers incident to the rashness of its patrons. Furthermore, the gym must only take reasonable precautions under the circumstances to avoid injury. To prove negligence on the part of Rok Haus, Ravey must show both a failure to provide reasonable training [*8] and supervision under the circumstances, as well as proof of a causal connection between this lack of reasonable training/supervision and the accident.
As a gym, Rok Haus owed a duty of reasonable care under the circumstances. The equipment was visually inspected prior to usage and was functioning properly after the incident.1 Ravey and Kelley were given proper instructions on how to climb the wall and use the equipment properly. Ravey and Kelley were also observed using the equipment to lower climbers properly before they were allowed to climb and belay by themselves. During the time the group was climbing prior to the accident, two Rok Haus employees observed the group to ensure they were using the gym’s equipment properly. Ravey made five or six successful climbs on the wall of the gym prior to the accident.
1 The particular Grigri (hand brake) in question remained in use for approximately one year after the incident.
It cannot be said that Rok Haus acted unreasonably in training its patrons on the proper use of the climbing equipment and in assisting the patrons with the equipment. Rok Haus employees provided the usual training to Ravey and his belayer. The employees observed them [*9] using the equipment properly before allowing them to climb on their own. The Rok Haus employees also continued to supervise the climbers after training. There is no evidence that the measures taken by Rok Haus’ employees to protect its patrons were inadequate under the circumstances and that a lack of supervision/training caused the accident. There [Pg 6] has not been a showing of both a failure to provide proper supervision and training along with a causal link to the incident in question. As such, there is no evidence that Rok Haus breached its duty of as a gym owner. Because the first element of negligence has not been sustained, the other four will not be addressed.
2. Adequacy of Training & Supervision
The final issue raised on appeal is whether there is a genuine issue of material fact as to the adequacy of training and supervision provided by Rok Haus. The existence of evidence as to inadequacy of training and supervision is essential to plaintiff’s cause of action. Without evidence as to said inadequacy, summary judgment was proper. See La.Code Civ.P. art. 966.
Rok Haus mandates a “belay check” safety session before any patrons climb the rock walls. During the belay check, the [*10] patrons are assisted with donning their harnesses and fastening themselves to the safety ropes. When a patron is climbing the wall, he is attached to a rope that runs up to a pulley anchored to the ceiling. From the pulley, the rope runs down to the belayer. The belayer wears a harness which is anchored to the floor and attached to the Grigri, through which the rope from the ceiling pulley runs. The function of the Grigri is to clamp the rope if the climber should fall. It is designed such that it is automatically clamps the rope if there is a sudden pull on the rope. In order to feed slack to the climber so that he may descend, the belayer must manually pull a lever to release the clamp on the rope.
The members of the Civil Air Patrol were instructed in pairs. Ravey and Kelly were given instructions on how to climb the wall and use the equipment properly. When climbing higher than ten feet along the wall, as Ravey was doing, climbers and belayers are required to wear harnesses attached to a safety rope. After instructions and assistance in donning the protective gear, the climber and [Pg 7] belayer were instructed in the proper method of belaying. Thereafter, the belayers handle the [*11] ropes under the instructors’ supervision.
Once the instructor determines the belayer can handle the safety ropes correctly, the belayers are instructed in the proper procedure for lowering a climber. The belayers must then operate the rope and the Grigri under the supervision of an instructor. After demonstrating an ability to belay the instructor, the belayers are allowed to belay volunteer climbers in the group under the supervision of the instructor.
This safety training session lasted approximately fifteen to twenty minutes. The members of the Civil Air Patrol group were individually instructed in safe climbing and belaying techniques and were observed operating the equipment properly before being allowed to climb and belay on their own. After receiving their safety training in the proper methods of belaying, Ravey, Kelley, and the rest of the Civil Air Patrol group climbed for forty-five minutes to an hour. During this time, two supervisors were present who observed the group to ensure that they were using the gym’s equipment properly. Ravey made five or six climbs on the wall prior to his accident.
There is no evidence to suggest that Rok Haus did not act reasonably in training [*12] its patrons on the proper use of the climbing equipment and in assisting the patrons in donning the equipment. Each patron who belays (operates the safety control device, the Grigri, and controls the safety rope) is personally instructed on the proper belaying techniques and is observed to ensure that the patron is capable of operating the equipment correctly before they are allowed to belay on their own. Furthermore, after completion of the safety check and practice, the climbers remained under the supervision and watch of two supervisors. The absence of evidence as to the material facts of inadequate training and inadequate supervision [Pg 8] makes summary judgment appropriate. As such, summary judgment as to the adequacy and training and supervision was proper.
We note that rock climbing is a recreational activity that involves substantial risk. Many other recreational activities such as weight lifting and swimming also involve a substantial degree of risk. The risk associated with these and other physically-challenging sports are well recognized. [HN7] The duty on the gym operator, when these types of sports are conducted, is that of providing a sound and secure environment for undertaking [*13] a clearly risky form of recreation and not that of removing every element of danger inherent in rock climbing, weight lifting, or swimming. The duty imposed on the gym is one of reasonable care under the circumstances. Ravey focuses on the age of the boy holding the rope and argues that he should have been given more training because of his age. However, Ravey points to no authority suggesting that fourteen year olds are not adequately mature to perform this kind of activity or that the training was inadequate in this instance. The record contains no evidence to suggest the training was inadequate or that a person of fourteen years would need more training than was given to teach him to perform. It is this total absence of evidence that drives the summary judgment process and, in this case, compels affirmation.
CONCLUSION:
The record contains no evidence to suggest that the duty of Rok Haus to provide training and supervision was not done reasonably under the circumstances. Furthermore, there is no genuine issue of material fact as to the adequacy of training received by the Ravey party prior to engaging in climbing and regarding the adequacy of the supervision provided after training.
Costs [*14] of this appeal are assessed to Ravey.
AFFIRMED
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Nikwax: Staying Cool & A June Giveaway
Posted: June 28, 2013 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Athletic, Athletic shoe, Clothing, Footwear, Shopping, Stay Cool, x, y, z 2 Comments
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States that allow a parent to sign away a minor’s right to sue
Posted: June 26, 2013 Filed under: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Minnesota, Minors, Youth, Children, North Dakota, Ohio, Release (pre-injury contract not to sue) Leave a commentIf your state is not listed here, you should assume a parent cannot waive a minor’s right to sue in your state.
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An example of adults and money getting in the way of kids has fun
Posted: June 25, 2013 Filed under: Minors, Youth, Children | Tags: AdventureTravel, Attorney at law, Jim Moss, Kids, minors, Organized Sports, playgrounds, RecreationLaw, Ropes course, Swing sets Leave a commentIf more playgrounds were like this, more kids would be outside and more adults would be happier.
What happens when adults tell kids how to have fun. You get structure, organization, injuries and lawsuits. You get budgets and planning and rules. What do
Two playground sets at Hudson Springs Park in Hudson, Ohio. \
kids get…..not much!
Read this article. Tear Down the Swing Sets
It looks at what happens when you allow kids to play with each other without structure, without rules, without “equipment.” Some of the studies looked at kids playing with sand or foam blocks and having more fun than any kids have with playground equipment.
When was the last time you looked at kids playing on a playground and came up with a thought like this? “These children are intent, they are cooperative, they are resourceful.”
However, with so much “adult,” community planning and legal involvement we ended up with this.
Then the grownups got skittish. Down came the merry-go-rounds and the jungle gyms, and in their place, a landscape of legally-insulated, brightly-colored, spongy-floored, hard-plastic structures took root. Today, walking onto a children’s playground is like exiting the interstate: Regardless of where you are, you see the exact same thing.
The article also looks at keeping kids safe and finds that does not work. 1. It is not possible and 2 it does not help kids to grow and mature. Kids need to know, experience and understand risk. The head of England’s Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said, “…children should be exposed to a certain degree of risk, not because an activity is risky per se but because it is fun, exciting, and challenging.”
This is awesome.” Kids who are bored stay inside and staying inside is ultimately far worse for your health than a broken arm.”
Kids need to be kids to learn about risks, to have fun and to grow. That does not require the intervention, direction or control of adults.
English: Kids playground (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
For Similar Articles about this:
This article takes a real look at the risks parents allow their children to face http://rec-law.us/Zwk2yp
What do you think? Leave a comment.
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Plaintiff tried multiple ways to sue whitewater rafting company
Posted: June 24, 2013 Filed under: Assumption of the Risk, Maryland, Whitewater Rafting | Tags: Boat, Common Carrier, Failure to Rescue, Federal Rule of Evidence, first aid, Laurel Highlands River Tours, MARYLAND, MD, Paddling, Raft, Raft guide, Recreation, Whitewater Rafting Leave a commentPlaintiff premises claims do not apply to a whitewater rafting company.
Sanders v. Laurel Highlands River Tours, Incorporated, 1992 U.S. App. LEXIS 15094 (4th Cir 1992)
Plaintiff: James A. Sanders
Defendant: Laurel Highlands River Tours, Incorporated; Laurel Highlands River Tours of Maryland, Incorporated
Plaintiff Claims: (1) he properly presented a “failure to warn claim”; (2) Laurel was strictly liable as a common carrier; (3) the district court abused its discretion in refusing to permit him to supplement the medical expert’s affidavit; (4) the district court erred in finding that the original affidavits were insufficient; and (5) the district court erred in finding that he failed to offer proof from which a reasonable jury could find Laurel negligent in failing to rescue him sooner
Defendant Defenses: no duty to warn Sanders of the dangers of the white-water rafting trip; that he failed to produce evidence that Laurel breached a duty to rescue him at the earliest opportunity; and that he failed to establish causation as to his claim that Laurel failed to adequately treat his injury
Holding: for the defendant
The plaintiff in this case went whitewater rafting previously with the defendant. During his second trip, he fell out of the raft injuring his knee. He later developed a staph infection from the injury. Cases where the plaintiff argues the first aid care was improper or negligent are extremely rare. However, the court rules on a technicality that throws out the plaintiff’s first aid claim and does not provide us with any direction in this area of the law.
During the trip, the plaintiff fell out of the raft and swam about 100 yards until he was rescued. During the swim, he was injured when he struck his knee on something. An employee of the defendant applied an ice bag and an elastic bandage on the trip. The Plaintiff eventually went to a hospital where he was diagnosed with a laceration and a fractured knee cap. The plaintiff later had surgery but developed a staph infection.
The plaintiff asserted the raft guide had the opportunity to rescue him but “the raft guide instructed his companions not to attempt to retrieve him until they got to calmer water.”
The plaintiff filed suit claiming, “that Laurel breached a duty to warn him of the dangers of rafting and that Laurel failed to rescue him at the earliest opportunity. His main claim, as the district court perceived it, was that Laurel failed to render proper first aid, and this was the cause of his subsequent infection.”
Summary of the case
The Plaintiff was a citizen of Alabama. The defendant raft company was located in Pennsylvania. The river where the accident occurred is the upper Youghiogheny in Maryland. The plaintiff sued the defendant in Federal District Court. The parties agreed that a Maryland court, the state where the accident occurred was the proper site for the venue of the case.
This section of the Youghiogheny was described by the court as “most difficult of all categories of river runs.” The court made that determination by using a book that describes the rivers and ratings in the east. The court is silent on how this book was accepted by the court and introduced into evidence.
Most books like this are brought into the evidentiary change through the Federal Rule of Evidence (F.R.E.) 803(18) Learned Treatises. The rules of evidence control what evidence is introduced at trial both as documents or things and what witnesses may say. F.R.E. 803(18) states:
(18) Learned treatises. To the extent called to the attention of an expert witness upon cross-examination or relied upon by the expert witness in direct examination, statements contained in published treatises, periodicals, or pamphlets on a subject of history, medicine, or other science or art, established as a reliable authority by the testimony or admission of the witness or by other expert testimony or by judicial notice. If admitted, the statements may be read into evidence but may not be received as exhibits.
Normally, the rules of evidence require a person to prove the document or book as what the evidence is, and that it is real. If you were trying to introduce the raft company brochure as a piece of evidence, you would have to have the owner or a corporate officer of the company on the stand and testify that the brochure was the brochure.
A Learned Treatise is different in two ways. The first is you do not need the author or the publisher to admit the treatise, the book into evidence. If the treatise is relied upon by an expert witness, testified as a reliable authority in the field or recognized as the authority by the court or the general public, the information in the treatise is accepted in the case. The second issue is everything in the treatise is accepted without additional testimony. Normally, it might take two or three experts to examine a river section and applying the American Whitewater Associations rating system determine the river rating. However, a book that is generally accepted in the whitewater community or by a recognized expert in the field is accepted by the court as a learned treatise under F.R.E. 803(18). Once the book is admitted, every page and statement in the book is admitted.
An important point in most recreational cases is what information the plaintiff had to assist him in his decision to engage in the sport. If the information is lacking the plaintiff introduces the evidence to prove the defendant was hiding things or did not give proper notice of the release or the dangers. If the brochure does a good job of pointing out the risks and the requirements, the defense introduces the brochure into trial. In this case, the plaintiff was mailed a brochure by the defendant. The brochure was reviewed by the court, and the Court pointed out three points in the brochure.
1) Although we spare no effort to assure you a safe trip, it must be understood that whitewater rafting does include some danger. We can assume no responsibility for personal safety . . . . We will ask that you sign a liability form.
2. Experience is a must everyone in your group should have rafted the Cheat [a river classified as lower in difficulty than the upper Youghiogheny] several times at various water levels.
3. Upper Youghiogheny – advanced to expert level. The upper Youghiogheny . . . is the ultimate challenge in white-water rafting.
The defendant also gave the trip participants a safety talk, oral warnings as the court described them at the meeting point and at the river put in. The plaintiff denies hearing the warnings. However, the court referenced the warnings in the opinion giving credibility to them. Finally, the plaintiff signed a release for this trip; the second release signed by the defendant, which the court quoted from:
As a condition of acceptance, I certify that I am an able swimmer, in good health, and understand the sport of white-water rafting. I further understand the potential hazards of the sport of white-water touring and realize that I could fall out of the raft or even capsize in a raft in rough water (rapids). I realize this could possibly result in serious injury. I relieve and save harmless Laurel Highland River Tours, Inc., their Directors, Officers, Stockholders, Employees and Helpers, of any responsibility for all claims of any nature whatsoever . . . .
Failure to Rescue
The Appellate court adopted the District Court’s analysis and finding regarding the claim that the defendant was not rescued quickly. Because the only testimony about whether the rescue was quick enough was the plaintiff’s there was no proof to validate the claim. The court stated an expert witnesses needed to testify that the plaintiff should have been rescued sooner. The plaintiff’s statements were insufficient under Maryland law to prove a claim of negligence.
This claim and the court’s review did not investigate the issue of keeping the majority safe at the expense of one. In a raft and in some cases on a mountain, the guide must evaluate the risk of the rescue to the entire boat, not to the swimming customer. If rescuing the one customer in the river will put the entire boat at risk, the customer will swim a while longer. This point must be made and explained to your guests both in writing and in any safety talk. It is important for the customer in the water to know that their rescue is up to them. It is important for the people in the boat to understand they have to get the boat to a safe area and then rescue so they do not risk themselves needlessly or just quit paddling believing they should grab the swimmer.
Negligent in failing to render first aid.
The claim of negligently failing to properly render first aid is an extremely rare claim. The court again looked at the evidence presented and ruled the evidence was insufficient to meet a claim of negligence; “that the medical evidence failed to show that the infection was caused by improper first aid.” By this court the court stated, there was nothing but the plaintiff’s allegations about how he was injured. Courts want expert testimony from people in the field to rule on scientific, technical or areas of information outside of the general knowledge of the public.
Failure to Warn
The plaintiff argued that the defendant failed to “warn Sanders [the plaintiff] of the extreme danger of the particular section of river they would be traversing.”
The court first examined whether there was a general duty to warn in a non-landowner liability case. The court found that a general duty to warn exists in numerous situations. The court used the example that a stable had a duty to warn a rider of a horse with dangerous propensities.
To establish a duty to warn, the court must look at the following factors: “foreseeability and certainty of harm; policy of preventing harm; closeness of connection between conduct and harm; moral blame; burden on defendant; and insurability.” Looking at the factors the court determined that “A white-water outfitter who arranges and guides customers on rafting trips owes a general duty of care to its customers. The general duty may require, in some circumstances, that Laurel provide a warning to its patrons.”
The warnings that the defendant gave the plaintiff were adequate as a matter of law according to the court. Warnings only need to be reasonable, not the best warnings possible. The court also found the plaintiff had notice of the risks because he had taken a prior whitewater rafting trip and because the risks of whitewater rafting are obvious: “…the general danger of white-water rafting is a risk apparent to anyone about to embark on such a trip.”
Finally, the court determined that the plaintiff’s claim that whitewater rafting was a common carrier, and thus due to a higher standard of care was without merit. By this the court meant, there was no legal or factual basis to discuss the issue.
So Now What?
There is no real information you can take from this case that we have not previously discussed. However, it does show how far some plaintiffs will go to get around and sue for an injury. The defendant had done a good job of putting out to the public information on the risks of the activity which allowed the court to make the decisions to deny the plaintiff’s claims.
Other Common Carrier Cases
WA Zip line lawsuit dismissed because the plaintiff admitted he should have understood the risk http://rec-law.us/L3IfG1
Electronic release upheld in Florida federal court for surfing on a cruise ship http://rec-law.us/LPSLWS
New Hampshire season pass release protects ski area from claim for injury due to snowmobile accident http://rec-law.us/XaQSpf
What do you think? Leave a comment.
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Copyright 2013 Recreation Law (720) Edit Law
Email: Rec-law@recreation-law.com
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Sanders v. Laurel Highlands River Tours, Incorporated, 1992 U.S. App. LEXIS 15094 (4th Cir 1992)
Posted: June 24, 2013 Filed under: Assumption of the Risk, Legal Case, Maryland, Whitewater Rafting | Tags: Common Carrier, Failure to Rescue, first aid, Laurel, Laurel Highland, Laurel Highlands River Tours, MARYLAND, MD, Raft, United States Court of Appeals, Whitewater Rafting, Youghiogheny River Leave a commentSanders v. Laurel Highlands River Tours, Incorporated, 1992 U.S. App. LEXIS 15094 (4th Cir 1992)
James A. Sanders, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Laurel Highlands River Tours, Incorporated; Laurel Highlands River Tours of Maryland, Incorporated, Defendants-Appellees.
No. 92-1060
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
1992 U.S. App. LEXIS 15094
May 5, 1992, Argued
June 29, 1992, Decided
Notice: Rules of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals may limit citation to unpublished opinions. Please refer to the rules of the United States Court of Appeals for this circuit.
Subsequent History: Reported as Table case at 1992 U.S. App. LEXIS 22122
Prior History: Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, at Baltimore. Frederic N. Smalkin, District Judge. (CA-91-1507-S)
Disposition: Affirmed
Counsel: Argued: Richard Evan Jordan, Washington, D.C., for Appellant.
Howard J. Schulman, Baltimore, Maryland, for Appellee.
Judges: Before Ervin, Chief Judge, Hamilton, Circuit Judge, and Howard, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina, sitting by designation.
Opinion by: Per Curiam
Opinion
Opinion
Per Curiam:
James A. Sanders appeals the order of the district court granting summary judgment in favor of Laurel Highlands River Tours, Inc. (Laurel) on his claims arising from injuries he received while on a white-water rafting trip. Sanders also appeals the district court’s denial of his motion for reconsideration of the judgment. The district court granted summary judgment on the grounds that Laurel had no duty to warn Sanders of the dangers of the white-water rafting trip; that he failed to produce evidence that Laurel breached a duty to rescue him at the earliest opportunity; and that he failed to establish causation as to his claim that Laurel failed to adequately treat his injury.
Although the district court erred in ruling that the theory of failure to warn, other than as applied to landowners, does not arise outside of the product liability context, we affirm its decision on the grounds that, as a matter of law, the warnings given to Sanders were adequate and he assumed the risk of undertaking the white-water rafting trip.
I
Laurel is a corporation engaged in the business of outfitting and guiding customers who wish to raft down rivers and their rapids in the Pennsylvania area. One of the guided white-water tours is on the upper portion of the Youghiogheny River in Western Maryland. This portion of the Youghiogheny is classified, according to an industry guide, as within the most difficult of all categories of river runs, suitable for experts. Armstead, Whitewater Rafting in Eastern North America, (2d ed. 1989).
Sanders contracted with Laurel for himself and three of his friends. This trip was not the first Sanders took. On October 24, 1987, Sanders went on a rafting trip with Laurel on the lower Youghiogheny, a run classified as lower in difficulty than the upper Youghiogheny. Prior to the lower Youghiogheny trip, Sanders signed a release of liability which stated in part that he “realized I could fall out of the raft or even capsize in rough water (rapids). I realize this could result in serious injury.” (Exhibit, Joint Appendix (J.A.) 34). On July 20, 1988, Sanders made the reservation for the upper Youghiogheny trip. Sanders concedes that he received, prior to this trip, a brochure that stated, in relevant part:
1)Although we spare no effort to assure you a safe trip, it must be understood that whitewater rafting does include some danger. We can assume no responsibility for personal safety . . . . We will ask that you sign a liability form. (J.A. 44).
2.Experience is a must everyone in your group should have rafted the Cheat [a river classified as lower in difficulty than the upper Youghiogheny] several times at various water levels. (J.A. 40).
3.Upper Youghiogheny – advanced to expert level. The upper Youghiogheny . . . is the ultimate challenge in white-water rafting.
Sanders denies, and we accept for purposes of reviewing this summary judgment, that he heard the oral warnings that Laurel submits it gave about the dangers of white-water rafting in general and the upper Youghiogheny in particular. Laurel asserts that it gave such warnings at the meeting point for participants and the embarkation point at the river. There is no question, however, that Sanders signed a waiver and release card, before both the first trip and the ill-fated one. The card stated, directly above his signature and directly below information he filled out:
As a condition of acceptance, I certify that I am an able swimmer, in good health, and understand the sport of white-water rafting. I further understand the potential hazards of the sport of white-water touring and realize that I could fall out of the raft or even capsize in a raft in rough water (rapids). I realize this could possibly result in serious injury. I relieve and save harmless Laurel Highland River Tours, Inc., their Directors, Officers, Stockholders, Employees and Helpers, of any responsibility for any and all claims of any nature whatsoever . . . . (J.A. 34).
Laurel transported the customers to the drop-off point. At the drop-off point, the customers were given further instructions and outfitted with helmets and life preservers.
Early in the trip, Sanders fell out of the raft and claims he was forced to traverse approximately 100 yards of the rapids bodily. He asserts that, prior to his injury, there was an opportunity for him to be safely retrieved, but that the raft guide instructed his companions not to attempt to retrieve him until they got to calmer water. Sanders injured his knee at some point when he struck a rock and claims that he also suffered an open wound on the knee at that time. A Laurel employee rendered first aid which consisted of applying an ice cap and an elastic bandage to the injured area.
The next morning, Sanders went to an emergency room where he was treated and told to seek further care closer to home. The emergency room records indicate that he had an abrasion and a fractured knee cap. He later had surgery performed on his knee to repair the fracture. Four days later, Sanders developed a staph infection in the upper thigh.
Sanders does not claim that Laurel owed him a duty to prevent him from falling out of the raft. He does assert that Laurel breached a duty to warn him of the dangers of rafting and that Laurel failed to rescue him at the earliest opportunity. His main claim, as the district court perceived it, was that Laurel failed to render proper first aid and this was the cause of his subsequent infection.
The parties focused much of their pre-trial efforts on the purported release which Sanders signed prior to the trip. The district court, however, found it unnecessary to consider this issue.
First, the district court found that the only basis for the claim that he should have been rescued sooner was Sanders’ opinion. The district court ruled that such an opinion concerning when it was safe to get Sanders back into the raft probably required the testimony of an expert, but even if it did not, Sanders’ statements were mere “adjectival descriptions” which, under Maryland law, would be insufficient to prove negligence. (Order, J.A. 254). Sanders’ second claim for relief was that Laurel’s employee was negligent in failing to properly render first aid to him because his wound was not properly cleaned. Here the district court focused on the medical evidence concerning causation, finding that the medical evidence failed to show that the infection was caused by improper first aid.
Sanders filed a motion for reconsideration and attached a supplemental affidavit from one of his medical experts in which the expert specifically opined that the lack of first aid was the cause of the subsequent staph infection. Sanders also claimed that the district court failed to consider his “failure to warn claim.” This failure to warn claim was based on Laurel’s supposed duty to warn Sanders of the extreme danger of the particular section of river they would be traversing.
The district court in its order on reconsideration noted that a “failure to warn” theory of recovery, outside of the landowner liability context, was limited in application to product liability cases. In addition, the district court refused to give Sanders a”second bite at the apple” by supplementing the medical expert’s affidavit. To do so, the court felt, would substantially diminish the purpose and utility of summary judgment.
Sanders appeals on the grounds that: (1) he properly presented a “failure to warn claim”; (2) Laurel was strictly liable as a common carrier; (3) the district court abused its discretion in refusing to permit him to supplement the medical expert’s affidavit; (4) the district court erred in finding that the original affidavits were insufficient; and (5) the district court erred in finding that he failed to offer proof from which a reasonable jury could find Laurel negligent in failing to rescue him sooner.
Laurel argues on appeal against these assertions. It also contends that it was not liable as a matter of law because Sanders knew of the danger and voluntarily assumed the risk, because Sanders agreed, before his injury, to unconditionally release Laurel from any liability, and because Laurel adequately warned Sanders of the dangers involved.
II
Sanders, a citizen of Alabama, brought this suit in federal court against Laurel, a corporate citizen of Pennsylvania, on the basis of diversity. The parties agreed that the law of the locus, Maryland, applied to the action.
[HN1] Appellate review of the granting of a party’s motion for summary judgment is de novo, and the court of appeals uses the same standard as the district court. Charbonnages de France v. Smith, 597 F.2d 406 (4th Cir. 1979).
Initially, it must be noted that the district court erred in holding that a defendant can have no duty to warn outside of landowner and product liability law. See, e.g., Eisel v. Bd. of Educ. of Montgomery Co., 597 A.2d 447 (Md. 1991) (holding that the failure of a school counselor to inform parents of a student’s suicide ideation was grounds for liability of the school); B.N v. K.K., 538 A.2d 1175 (Md. 1988) (holding that the failure of a person to warn his sexual partner that he had genital herpes was grounds for liability for transmission of the disease). [HN2] A duty to warn does extend beyond product liability or landowner liability cases if a warning is called for as a result of one party’s general duty to another.
For example, the owner of a horse with a known dangerous propensity must warn a rider of that danger since that is the appropriate way for him to respond to his duty to his customer. See, e.g., Bass v. Quinn Robins Co., 216 P.2d 944 (Idaho 1950). An airline has a duty to warn a passenger of turbulence it knows is likely to occur. Brittain v. Piedmont Aviation, Inc., 120 S.E.2d 72 (N.C. 1961). An airline may have a duty to warn of conditions of flight if it knows they may affect a passenger with a particular sensitivity to those conditions. Paolone v. American Airlines, Inc., 706 F. Supp. 11 (S.D. N.Y. 1989).
In Eisel, the court discussed [HN3] the factors under which a tort duty arises; these factors are: foreseeability and certainty of harm; policy of preventing harm; closeness of connection between conduct and harm; moral blame; burden on defendant; and insurability. 597 A.2d at 452-55. A white-water outfitter who arranges and guides customers on rafting trips owes a general duty of care to its customers. The general duty may require, in some circumstances, that Laurel provide a warning to its patrons. We decline to hold, as the district court effectively does, that Laurel has no duty to warn of the danger of the rafting trip it sells to its customers.
In this case, however, the error proved harmless because the warnings given, as a matter of law, were adequate. * The district court based its opinion on the proposition that there was no duty to warn. Because the record is clear and the facts apparent, however, we need not remand for consideration. Cf. Federal Deposit Insur. Corp. v. Jones, 846 F.2d 221 (4th Cir. 1988).* The district court correctly noted that the warnings Laurel gave were adequate as a matter of law and that the general dangers of white-water rafting are apparent. However, it assumed for purposes of summary judgment that this was not the case and based its holding on other grounds.
There can be no real dispute that Laurel gave Sanders adequate warnings of the hazards of white-water rafting in general and the enhanced hazards of rafting the upper Youghiogheny in particular. Warnings need only be reasonable, they need not be the best possible warnings in the circumstances. Nolan v. Dillon, 276 A.2d 36 (Md. 1971). In this case, Laurel provided several warnings of the general risks and at least one specific warning that Sanders could fall out and be injured. A more specific or adequate warning could not be required.
Furthermore, it is uncontestable that Sanders had previously been on a white-water rafting experience and had twice signed release cards that specifically warned of the dangers of falling out, capsizing and injury. Even if Sanders neither heard nor read the many warnings given him, the general danger of white-water rafting is a risk apparent to anyone about to embark on such a trip. See Saenz v. Whitewater Voyages, Inc., 226 Cal. 3d 768, 276 Cal. Rptr. 672 (1st Dist. 1990).
Given the obviousness of the general risks involved, the warnings given of the specific risk from which Sanders was injured, and his previous rafting experience, Sanders assumed the risk of his injury. [HN4] Under Maryland law, participants assume the obvious and apparent risks of engaging in such sports. Nesbitt v. Bethesda Country Club, 314 A.2d 738 (Md. App. 1974). Clearly under Maryland law, if a plaintiff, as here, voluntarily exposes himself to a known danger of which he was warned or otherwise knows of, he has assumed the risk that danger poses. Gibson v. Beaver, 226 A.2d 273 (Md. 1967).
III
With regard to the claims that Laurel failed to rescue Sanders at the earliest opportunity and that it failed to render proper first aid, we have considered the briefs and the arguments of the parties and affirm on the reasoning of the district court. Sanders v. Laurel Highlands River Tours, Inc., No. CA-91-1507-S (D. Md. Nov. 15, 1991). We further find the claim that Laurel was strictly liable as a common carrier to be without merit. Accordingly, the decision of the district court is affirmed.
AFFIRMED
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Dolores River Boating Advocates is looking for a Program Coordinator
Posted: June 21, 2013 Filed under: Paddlesports, Rivers and Waterways | Tags: Dolores River, Non-Profit, Program Coordinator Leave a comment
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Want a job rowing a boat or motor rig in the Grand Canyon?
Posted: June 20, 2013 Filed under: Michigan, Triathlon, Youth Camps, Zip Line | Tags: Arizona, Boatman, Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, National Parks and Monuments, Park, Travel and Tourism, United States Leave a commentHello everyone,
Poster for Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
There are 2 small craft operator (whitewater boat operator) positions now open in Grand Canyon National Park. The positions opened today, June 17th and will be open for applications until July 12th. The positions have a 4 year term. You can access the job posting/descriptions/requirements and apply online at:
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/345603000
This information came from the Grand Canyon River Guides Association. If you love the Grand Canyon, you should be a member.
Wilderness First Aid
Posted: June 19, 2013 Filed under: First Aid | Tags: 1st Aid, American Red Cross, Automated external defibrillator, Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR, Emergency Medical Services, first aid, Good Samaritan, Outdoor recreation, Outdoors, PowerPoint, Presentation, Recreation, Schools and Courses, Survival and Primitive Technology, Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness First Responder Leave a commentLegally what is important about First Aid when you are away from EMS, what is not…………and what is just sleight of hand
Audience: Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education
Location: Keystone, Colorado
Date: 2010
Presentation: Wilderness First Aid http://rec-law.us/17L6pQB
This presentation looked at myths and realities of first aid and the special issues of wilderness first aid. It also examined the various state Good Samaritan statutes and why some first aid “designations” might now qualify under the act.
For additional articles on the subject see:
10 First Aid Myths http://rec-law.us/ySaAwO
Another Way to Teach CPR http://rec-law.us/xEEaRo
CPR is not fool proof http://rec-law.us/w4PrpE
Everyone should write first aid protocols…. Or you could just buy a first aid book!http://rec-law.us/wguXEW
First Aid has its Limits. By law! http://rec-law.us/xS1IEk
Letter to the Editor: Wilderness and Environmental Medicine http://rec-law.us/AjxzNj
Not a final decision, but I believe an indication of where the law of AED’s is heading however the basis for the decision is nuts! http://rec-law.us/yKC5te
Seriously, you have to send a memo about this, the issue is not what they are doing, it is who you are allowing to instruct. http://rec-law.us/Ap1bRu
Stopping a rescue when someone is willing to perform may create liabilityhttp://rec-law.us/xuMtOt
Remember the law changes constantly, this presentation may be out of date. Check back at www.recreation-law.com and with your attorney to make sure the information is still valid.
What do you think? Leave a comment.
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#RecreationLaw, #@RecreationLaw, #Cycling.Law #Fitness.Law, #Ski.Law, #Outside.Law, #Recreation.Law, #Recreation-Law.com, #Outdoor Law, #Recreation Law, #Outdoor Recreation Law, #Adventure Travel Law, #law, #Travel Law, #Jim Moss, #James H. Moss, #Attorney at Law, #Tourism, #Adventure Tourism, #Rec-Law, #Rec-Law Blog, #Recreation Law, #Recreation Law Blog, #Risk Management, #Human Powered, #Human Powered Recreation,# Cycling Law, #Bicycling Law, #Fitness Law, #Recreation-Law.com, #Backpacking, #Hiking, #Mountaineering, #Ice Climbing, #Rock Climbing, #Ropes Course, #Challenge Course, #Summer Camp, #Camps, #Youth Camps, #Skiing, #Ski Areas, #Negligence, #Snowboarding, #RecreationLaw, #@RecreationLaw, #Cycling.Law #Fitness.Law, #SkiLaw, #Outside.Law, #Recreation.Law, #RecreationLaw.com, #OutdoorLaw, #RecreationLaw, #OutdoorRecreationLaw, #AdventureTravelLaw, #Law, #TravelLaw, #JimMoss, #JamesHMoss, #AttorneyatLaw, #Tourism, #AdventureTourism, #RecLaw, #RecLawBlog, #RecreationLawBlog, #RiskManagement, #HumanPowered, #HumanPoweredRecreation,# CyclingLaw, #BicyclingLaw, #FitnessLaw, #RecreationLaw.com, #Backpacking, #Hiking, #Mountaineering, #IceClimbing, #RockClimbing, #RopesCourse, #ChallengeCourse, #SummerCamp, #Camps, #YouthCamps, #Skiing, #Ski Areas, #Negligence, #Snowboarding, sport and recreation laws, ski law, cycling law, Colorado law, law for recreation and sport managers, bicycling and the law, cycling and the law, ski helmet law, skiers code, skiing accidents, Recreation Lawyer, Ski Lawyer, Paddlesports Lawyer, Cycling Lawyer, Recreational Lawyer, Fitness Lawyer, Rec Lawyer, Challenge Course Lawyer, Ropes Course Lawyer, Zip Line Lawyer, Rock Climbing Lawyer, Adventure Travel Lawyer, Outside Lawyer, Recreation Lawyer, Ski Lawyer, Paddlesports Lawyer, Cycling Lawyer, #RecreationalLawyer, #FitnessLawyer, #RecLawyer, #ChallengeCourseLawyer, #RopesCourseLawyer, #ZipLineLawyer, #RockClimbingLawyer, #AdventureTravelLawyer, #OutsideLawyer, PowerPoint, Presentation, First Aid, 1st Aid, Wilderness First Aid, Good Samaritan, Wilderness First Responder,
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I always love it when a media outlet looks at itself and says we are not the reason for the problem.
Posted: June 18, 2013 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Aspen, Caleb Moore, Dew Tour, Extreme Athletes, Extreme Sports, LinkedIn, Men’s Journal, Online Communities, Red Bull, Trending and Popularity, Winter X Games, X Games 1 CommentIf you don’t say those people are gods, kids won’t emulate them.
Men’s Journal wrote an article a couple of months back that has been bugging me. The article “Are Extreme Sports Too Extreme” looks at the latest group of deaths of athletes.
Men’s Journal mostly writes about extreme athletes and extreme places and then throws in the fashion photo line up near the end of the magazine. I subscribe.
However, I believe the article misses the point. The article, like most in this genre looks at the event sponsors, which Men’s Journal writes favorable about, to put limits on the events, which Men’s Journal writes favorable about.
Maybe if Men’s Journal did not say the events were so awesome and the athletes so fantastic less people would emulate them and the athletes themselves would not consider their “god-like” image as full body airbags.
No one person or group of people, are responsible for athletes dying. However, the circle of recrimination and blame may stop if one person in the circle steps back and says I’m done.
What do you think? Leave a comment.
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Copyright 2013 Recreation Law (720) Edit Law
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Plaintiff uses standards of ACCT to cost defendant $4.7 million
Posted: June 17, 2013 Filed under: Challenge or Ropes Course, Climbing Wall, South Carolina | Tags: Alpine Towers, Alpine Towers International, Carowinds, Fort Mills, Grigri, negligent design, negligent training, paraplegic, Petzl, Punitive damages, strict liability, Trango 1 CommentJudgment included $1,110,000 in punitive damages, which is not covered by insurance and not dischargeable in bankruptcy.
Keeter v. Alpine Towers International, Inc., 399 S.C. 179; 730 S.E.2d 890; 2012 S.C. App. LEXIS 171
Plaintiff: Lawrence Keeter, Ronald Travis Keeter, and Rebecca Keeter,
Defendant: Alpine Towers International, Inc., and Ashley Sexton
Plaintiff Claims: strict liability, negligent design, and negligent training
Defendant Defenses: (1) judgment notwithstanding the verdict as to all causes of action and punitive damages, (2) a new trial, (3) an order requiring Larry to elect between the three causes of action, (4) set-off of the settlement paid by Fort Mill.
Holding: for the plaintiff’s in the amount of $3,400,500.00 actual damages and $1,110,000.00 in punitive damages.
This is the appeal that I first reported at “$4.7 million-dollar verdict in climbing wall case against Alpine Towers in South Carolina Court” The plaintiff at the time of his injury was a 17-year-old student who after falling 20’ was rendered a paraplegic.
This is sad, tragic, and honestly, a disaster of a case for both the defendant and the plaintiff. Worse, this case will have far-reaching effects into the climbing wall and ropes’ course industry. It probably won’t have any effect on those association’s writing standards; however, here again, this case is proof that writing standards by an association creates the cause of action needed by the plaintiff to win and in this case, win big.
The facts of the case are convoluted and made so not by what happened, but by the contracts created by the defendant.
The defendant built an Alpine Tower and sold it to an amusement park, Carowinds. The owner, Fort Mill purchased the Alpine Tower from Carowinds. Fort Mill (former defendant who probably settled out of the case) hired the defendant Alpine Towers International “to move it, install it, and train Fort Mill’s faculty to use it safely.” The term “it” in the sentence means the alpine tower. The contract to provide those services was probably the normal contract used when selling a tower by the defendant because it referred to Alpine Towers as the “Seller.” This came back to haunt the defendant because a seller has a greater degree of liability than just a mover. The agreement stated the seller would do much more than just move the tower.
The plaintiff was climbing the tower with another student belaying him. The belay rope became stuck in the belay device. The instructor was close by, and the student attempted to un-stick the rope herself. In doing so the belayer lost control of the rope, and the climber/plaintiff fell to the ground breaking his back. The plaintiff was rendered a paraplegic by the fall.
The plaintiff sued based on three causes of action.
(1) Alpine Towers was strictly liable for the manufacture and sale of a defective and unreasonably dangerous product; (2) Alpine Towers negligently designed the climbing tower without adequate safety equipment, instructions, and warnings; and (3) Alpine Towers was negligent in failing to properly train Fort Mill’s faculty on how to safely use the climbing tower, particularly in failing to train the faculty to teach student belayers to safely use the belay system.
The jury found for the plaintiff and his parents on all causes of action and awarded the plaintiff damages.
It awarded $500.00 for strict liability, $900,000.00 in actual damages and $160,000.00 in punitive damages for negligent design of the tower, and $2,500,000.00 in actual damages and $950,000.00 in punitive damages for Alpine Tower’s negligence in training Fort Mill’s faculty. The jury also returned a verdict for Larry’s parents for $240,000.00 in actual damages.
Summary of the case
The defendant appealed only the injured plaintiff’s claims and judgment, not the plaintiff’s parent’s claims. The defendant lost all of its arguments on appeal.
The first issue and the third most aggravating issue in this decision was how the court accepted the jury’s decision on the strict liability theory claim. The plaintiff’s experts argued that the belay device being used on the tower was operated manually and if the defendant has supplied automatic devices the fall would not have occurred.
…Gerald George, Ph.D., testified that the Trango Jaws relies on the absence of human error to safely belay a climber. He explained that it was feasible to use an alternative design for the climbing tower incorporating a belay device called a GriGri.
“Absence of human error” is how all accidents occur.
Dr. George testified that without incorporating a “fail-safe” belay device such as the GriGri into the design of a climbing tower used for students, the climbing tower is defective and unreasonably dangerous.
So by using a particular belay device, which was not part of the climbing wall, the defendant was strictly liable. The defendant was liable for the injury because the tower was “defective” based upon the choice of belay devices.
The next issue was the negligent design claim. Negligent design in South Carolina is a failure to exercise due care with the focus on the conduct of the seller or manufacturer. The proof the court accepted in this case was:
[Plaintiff] presented evidence that Alpine Towers conducted a ten-year study ending in 1999 that concluded the majority of accidents on its climbing towers were caused by human error, specifically belayers dropping their climbers.
Proof of the negligent design claim is knowing you have a problem that injures people and failing to do anything about it. The study was the proof of the knowledge, and the plaintiff’s injury was proof of failing to do anything about the problem.
Granted, it seems to be a stretch to apply design to belayers dropping climbers; however, if you look at the structure as including the ropes and belay devices, then the claim makes more sense.
The negligent training claims the final claim and the one that will create the most problems for other people within the industry. The contract signed by the defendant for moving the tower stated that defendant would teach the owner how to use the tower. The purchaser, Fort Mill, intended to use it to teach climbing and belaying. The defendant had manuals, curriculums and classes in how to belay; however, it did not teach the owner how to teach how to belay.
First, Alpine Towers uses a written syllabus when it conducts classes to teach adults how to belay. However, it did not provide the syllabus to Fort Mill to enable Fort Mill to effectively teach students. Second, the belay system designed by Alpine Towers relies on a faculty supervisor to ensure the students are properly belaying the climbers. In addition to [defendant’s employee’s] testimony as to where the faculty supervisor should be positioned, the CEO of Alpine Towers, Joe Lackey, testified, “the staff member should stand directly behind the climber, . . . not thirty feet away.”
However, it gets worse. The plaintiff’s expert testified that no one should belay until they have been tested.
Moreover, despite knowing that Fort Mill would be teaching students to belay and that students were more susceptible to making belaying errors than adults, Alpine Towers did not teach Fort Mill that it should test the students’ competency before allowing them to belay a climber. [Plaintiff’s expert] testified “as a matter of course in my industry, participants are tested,” including whether they are “able to . . . belay in a competent manner, catch falls, lower somebody . . . off a climb.”
However, the statements of the plaintiff’s experts were reinforced by the trade association that the defendant belonged to and that his own employees served on.
Alpine Towers has several employees who serve on the standards committee for the Association for Challenge Courses Technology, which [defendant] called a “climbing society.” Despite evidence of this standard climbing industry practice, Alpine Towers did not teach Fort Mill that it needed to test, how the tests should be conducted, or what particular skills should be tested.
Once again, the trade association (or as the defendant described it the “climbing society”) created standards which instead of helping the defendant win a trial, were used at trial to prove the defendant was negligent.
The final defense to the jury verdict raised by the defendant was Intervening Causation. Basically, this is an argument that something happened after the negligent acts of the defendant caused by a third party who either relieved the defendant of liability or is the real cause of the injury. If the intervening act was foreseeable, then it does not break the chain of liability between the parties. To be a defense, the intervening act must be the “bolt of lightning” without a thunderstorm, which came out of nowhere.
The test for whether a subsequent negligent act by a third party breaks the chain of causation to insulate a prior tortfeasor from liability is whether the subsequent actor’s negligence was reasonably foreseeable. “For an intervening act to break the causal link and insulate the tortfeasor from further liability, the intervening act must be unforeseeable.”
The defendant argued that the actions of the belayer, a co-defendant and the Fort Mill’s actions were an intervening cause. However, in this case, the acts of the defendant were foreseeable. In fact, for the belayer dropping a climber, the defendant had a study which showed what would happen.
So Now What?
The list of errors here is massive. Those errors were magnified by the plaintiff’s experts and trade association to which it belonged.
Marketing makes promises that Risk Management (actually your insurance company in most cases) must pay for. Here the wrong agreement was used where too many promises were made that were not kept by the defendant. If you put it in writing, you better make sure you are doing it; you have to complete the terms of the contract.
Add to that the language of the agreement using the term seller. The defendant created greater liability for itself. A mover moves; a seller agrees to move, set up, and in this case train.
It appears the plaintiff hired better experts. The court quoted from two of the plaintiff’s experts liberally. The court did not make a single quote from the defendant’s experts, or even mention if the defendant had an expert witness.
The defendant did a ten-year study on how people were injured using its towers. As usual, with a study that is not thought-out or done so with legal help, even when there could be legal consequences. The study was used by the plaintiff and the court to prove how negligent the design of the tower was. The study showed that most people were injured by belayers that dropped the climbers. That is what happened in this case.
The defendants own study showed the event was foreseeable, and occurred frequently. That was all the proof the plaintiff needed. If you do a study about injuries, you better solve the problems the study identifies. You just can’t look at the study and say, wow, what a great study.
Remember the big maps in ski patrol headquarters at ski resorts. Patrols used to stick a push pin or mark on the map were accidents occurred. Those maps are no longer found at the headquarters because they were proof that the ski area knew that accidents occurred at the locations with lots of holes in the map. If the injured skier can show his injury occurred at a holey part of the map, winning became much easier.
The worst part of this case is not in how it affects the defendant. The worst part is how this is going to affect climbing walls and rope’s courses across the US.
· Instructors are going to have to stand behind belayers.
· Instructional manuals have to be written in conjunction with an attorney. In this case, valuable information was removed from the manual which the judge attributed to a cause leading to the accident.
· Belay devices are going to be a nightmare. Do you use one that does not fail, but that humans fail to use properly or do you use a static device.
· Before allowing anyone to belay anywhere in the future the belayer is going to have to be tested.
The coup d’état or fait accompli of the case was the judge accepted that the defendant, who had several employees serving on the ACCT standards committee, failed to meet the standards created by the ACCT. What standard? The standard created on how to teach and test belayers.
Alpine Towers has several employees who serve on the standards committee for the Association for Challenge Courses Technology, which Lackey called a “climbing society.” Despite evidence of this standard climbing industry practice, Alpine Towers did not teach Fort Mill that it needed to test, how the tests should be conducted, or what particular skills should be tested.
Then the defendants own instruction manual was quoted by the court as proof the defendant had not followed its own standards.
Ashley testified she was not given a written test, but was required to do a “demonstration” and be watched by a faculty member to make sure she “knew how to do it.” There was no evidence; however, that Alpine Towers took any steps to ensure Fort Mill gave an adequate test of her competency. In fact, Alpine Towers’ instruction manual says only that students “will demonstrate proficiency in belaying before being permitted to belay.”
This is an appellate court decision; I searched but could not find out if this has been appealed to the South Carolina Supreme Court. Hopefully……
What do you think? Leave a comment.
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By Recreation Law Rec-law@recreation-law.com James H. Moss #Authorrank
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