Brigance v. Vail Summit Resorts, Inc.
Opinion
During a ski lesson at Keystone Mountain Resort ("Keystone"), Doctor Teresa Brigance's ski boot became wedged between the ground and the chairlift. She was unable to unload but the chairlift kept moving, which caused her femur to fracture. Dr. Brigance filed suit against Vail Summit Resorts, Inc. ("VSRI"), raising claims of (1) negligence, (2) negligence per se, (3) negligent supervision and training, (4) negligence (respondeat superior), (5) negligent hiring, and (6) violation of the Colorado Premises Liability Act (the "PLA"),
I. BACKGROUND
A. Factual Background
Keystone is a ski resort located in Colorado that is operated by VSRI. In March 2015, Dr. Brigance visited Keystone with her family and participated in a ski lesson. At the time, ski lesson participants, including Dr. Brigance, were required to sign a liability waiver (the "Ski School Waiver") before beginning their lessons. The Ski School Waiver signed 1 by Dr. Brigance contained, among other things, the following provisions:
*1247 RESORT ACTIVITY, SKI SCHOOL, & EQUIPMENT RENTAL WARNING, ASSUMPTION OF RISK, RELEASE OF LIABILITY & INDEMNITY AGREEMENT
THIS IS A RELEASE OF LIABILITY & WAIVER OF CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS.
...
2. I understand the dangers and risks of the Activity and that the Participant ASSUMES ALL INHERENT DANGERS AND RISKS of the Activity, including those of a "skier" (as may be defined by statute or other applicable law).
3. I expressly acknowledge and assume all additional risks and dangers that may result in ... physical injury and/or death above and beyond the inherent dangers and risks of the Activity, including but not limited to : Falling; free skiing; following the direction of an instructor or guide; ... equipment malfunction, failure or damage; improper use or maintenance of equipment; ... the negligence of Participant, Ski Area employees, an instructor ... or others; ... lift loading, unloading, and riding; .... I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DESCRIPTION OF THE RISKS IN THIS AGREEMENT IS NOT COMPLETE AND VOLUNTARILY CHOOSE FOR PARTICIPANT TO PARTICIPATE IN AND EXPRESSLY ASSUME ALL RISKS AND DANGERS OF THE ACTIVITY, WHETHER OR NOT DESCRIBED HERE, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, INHERENT OR OTHERWISE .
4. Participant assumes the responsibility ... for reading, understanding and complying with all signage, including instructions on the use of lifts. Participant must have the physical dexterity and knowledge to safely load, ride and unload the lifts....
...
6. Additionally, in consideration for allowing the Participant to participate in the Activity, I AGREE TO HOLD HARMLESS, RELEASE, INDEMNIFY, AND NOT TO SUE [ VSRI ] FOR ANY ... INJURY OR LOSS TO PARTICIPANT, INCLUDING DEATH, WHICH PARTICIPANT MAY SUFFER, ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART OUT OF PARTICIPANT'S PARTICIPATION IN THE ACTIVITY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE CLAIMS BASED ON [VSRI's] ALLEGED OR ACTUAL NEGLIGENCE ....
Aplt. App'x at 117 (emphasis in original).
In addition, Dr. Brigance's husband purchased a lift ticket enabling her to ride the ski lifts at Keystone. Dr. Brigance received the ticket from her husband and used it to ride the Discovery Lift. The lift ticket contained a warning and liability waiver (the "Lift Ticket Waiver") on its back side, which provides in pertinent part:
HOLDER AGREES AND UNDERSTANDS THAT SKIING ... AND USING A SKI AREA, INCLUDING LIFTS, CAN BE HAZARDOUS.
WARNING
Under state law, the Holder of this pass assumes the risk of any injury to person or property resulting from any of the inherent dangers and risks of skiing and may not recover from the ski area operator for any injury resulting from any of the inherent dangers and risks of skiing. Other risks include cliffs, extreme terrain, jumps, and freestyle terrain. Holder is responsible for having the physical dexterity to safely load, ride and unload the lifts and must control speed and course at all times.... Holder agrees to ASSUME ALL RISKS , inherent or otherwise. Holder agrees to hold the ski area harmless for claims to person or property....
...
*1248 NO REFUNDS. NOT TRANSFERABLE. NO RESALE.
After receiving some instruction during her ski lesson on how to load and unload from a chairlift, Dr. Brigance boarded the Discovery Lift. As Dr. Brigance attempted to unload from the lift, her left ski boot became wedged between the ground and the lift. Although she was able to stand up, she could not disengage the lift because her boot remained squeezed between the ground and the lift. Eventually, the motion of the lift pushed Dr. Brigance forward, fracturing her femur.
B. Procedural Background
Dr. Brigance filed suit against VSRI in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado as a result of the injuries she sustained while attempting to unload from the Discovery Lift. 2 In her amended complaint Dr. Brigance alleged that the short distance between the ground and the Discovery Lift at the unloading point-coupled with the inadequate instruction provided by her ski instructor, the chairlift operator's failure to stop the lift, and VSRI's deficient hiring, training, and supervision of employees-caused her injuries. She consequently asserted the following six claims against VSRI: (1) negligence; (2) negligence per se; (3) negligent supervision and training; (4) negligence (respondeat superior); (5) negligent hiring; and (6) liability under the PLA.
VSRI moved to dismiss all claims raised by Dr. Brigance with the exception of her respondeat superior and PLA claims. The district court granted in part and denied in part VSRI's motion.
Brigance v. Vail Summit Resorts, Inc.
("
Brigance I
"), No. 15-cv-1394-WJM-NYM,
Upon completion of discovery, VSRI moved for summary judgment on the basis that the Ski School Waiver and Lift Ticket Waiver completely bar Dr. Brigance's remaining claims. In the alternative, VSRI argued that summary judgment was appropriate because (1) Dr. Brigance failed to satisfy the elements of her PLA claim and (2) her common-law negligence claims are preempted by the PLA and otherwise lack evidentiary support. Dr. Brigance opposed the motion, contending in part that the waivers are unenforceable under the SSA and the four-factor test established by the Colorado Supreme Court in
Jones v. Dressel
,
*1249
The district court granted VSRI's motion.
Brigance v. Vail Summit Resorts, Inc.
("
Brigance II
"), No. 15-cv-1394-WJM-NYW,
II. DISCUSSION
Dr. Brigance challenges the district court's enforcement of both the Ski School Waiver and Lift Ticket Waiver, as well as the dismissal of her negligence and negligence per se claims. "[B]ecause the district court's jurisdiction was based on diversity of citizenship, [Colorado] substantive law governs" our analysis of the underlying claims and enforceability of the waivers.
Sylvia v. Wisler
,
Although the substantive law of Colorado governs our analysis of the waivers and underlying claims, federal law controls the appropriateness of a district court's grant of summary judgment and dismissal of claims under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6).
See
Stickley v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co.
,
"Summary judgment should be granted if the pleadings, the discovery and disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law."
Sylvia
,
Under Colorado law, "exculpatory agreements have long been disfavored,"
B & B Livery, Inc. v. Riehl
,
Accordingly, the Colorado Supreme Court has instructed courts to consider the following four factors when determining the enforceability of an exculpatory agreement: "(1) the existence of a duty to the public; (2) the nature of the service performed; (3) whether the contract was fairly entered into; and (4) whether the intention of the parties is expressed in clear and unambiguous language."
Jones
,
The district court examined each of the
Jones
factors and concluded that none of them preclude enforcement of the Ski School Waiver or Lift Ticket Waiver.
Brigance II
,
A. The Jones Factors
1. Existence of a Duty to the Public
The first
Jones
factor requires us to examine whether there is an "existence of a duty to the public,"
Jones
,
generally involve businesses suitable for public regulation; that are engaged in performing a public service of great importance, or even of practical necessity; that offer a service that is generally available to any members of the public who seek it; and that possess a decisive advantage of bargaining strength, enabling them to confront the public with a standardized adhesion contract of exculpation.
Chadwick
,
And, indeed, Colorado courts examining exculpatory agreements involving recreational activities under Colorado law have almost uniformly concluded that the first
Jones
factor does not invalidate or render unenforceable the relevant agreement.
See,
*1251
e.g.
,
Chadwick
,
The relevant services provided by VSRI-skiing and ski lessons-are clearly recreational in nature. Like horseback riding and skydiving services,
see
Chadwick
,
Dr. Brigance fails to address the principle "that businesses engaged in recreational activities that are not practically necessary ... do not perform services implicating a public duty."
Hamill
,
The Colorado Supreme Court has cited
Tunkl
and noted its relevance in determining whether a business owes a duty to the public.
Jones
,
ask whether the activity in question is the subject of some sort of state regulation. Instead, [it] ask[s] whether the service provided is of "great importance to the public," a matter of "practical necessity" as opposed to (among other things) a "recreational one. [ Jones ,]623 P.2d at 376-77 . And the distinction the Jones factors draw between essential and recreational services would break down pretty quickly if the presence of some state regulation were enough to convert an otherwise obviously "recreational" service into a "practically necessary" one. After all, state law imposes various rules and regulations on service providers in most every field these days-including on service providers who operate in a variety of clearly recreational fields.
Espinoza
,
The district court therefore did not err in concluding that the first Jones factor does not render the Ski School Waiver and the Lift Ticket Waiver unenforceable.
2. Nature of the Service Performed
Under the second
Jones
factor, we examine "the nature of the service performed."
Jones
,
Dr. Brigance raises no argument specific to this factor other than asserting that "the ski industry is a significant revenue generator for the State of Colorado" and the services provided by VSRI are "public [in] nature." Aplt. Br. 47. Dr. Brigance cites no authority suggesting that either factor would render the recreational services provided by VSRI essential in nature. And given Colorado courts' assertion that "recreational services [are] neither essential nor ... matter[s] of practical necessity,"
Stone
,
3. Whether the Waivers Were Fairly Entered Into
The third
Jones
factor requires us to examine "whether the contract was fairly entered into."
Jones
,
The Colorado Court of Appeals has identified "[p]ossible examples of unfair disparity in bargaining power [as] includ[ing] agreements between employers and employees and between common carriers or public utilities and members of the public."
Stone
,
We reiterate, at the risk of redundancy, that the ski and ski lesson services offered by VSRI are recreational in nature and do not constitute essential services or matters of practical necessity. As a result, Dr. Brigance did not enter the Ski School Waiver or Lift Ticket Waiver from an unfair bargaining position because she was free to walk away if she did not wish to assume the risks or waive the right to bring certain claims as described in the waivers. This conclusion is supported by a number of cases involving similar recreational activities, including those we have previously addressed under the first two
Jones
factors.
See
,
Jones
,
Moreover, the circumstances surrounding Dr. Brigance's entry into the exculpatory agreements indicate she did so fairly. Dr. Brigance does not identify any evidence in the record calling into question her competency, ability to comprehend the terms of the agreements, or actual understanding of the agreements. Nor does she point to anything in the record reflecting an intent or attempt by VSRI to fraudulently induce her to enter the agreements or to conceal or misconstrue their contents. In addition, there is nothing in the record to suggest Dr. Brigance's agreement to the terms of the Ski School Waiver was not voluntary.
See
Brigance II
,
Notwithstanding the well-established law that exculpatory agreements involving businesses providing recreational services do not implicate the third
Jones
factor, Dr. Brigance argues her assent to the terms of the Lift Ticket Waiver was obtained unfairly and that VSRI had an advantage in bargaining strength. This is so, she contends, because she "did not have a chance to review the exculpatory language contained on the back of the non-refundable [lift] ticket before she purchased it" and that "[o]nce the ticket was purchased, she was forced to accept the exculpatory language or lose the money she invested." Aplt. Br. 47. Dr. Brigance's argument fails to account for her voluntary acceptance of the Ski School Waiver. And although Dr. Brigance asserts she "did not have a chance to review" the Lift Ticket Waiver before purchasing it, she does not identify any evidence that VSRI prevented her from reviewing the Lift Ticket Waiver before she used it to ride the Discovery Lift, and "Colorado courts have repeatedly emphasized that individuals engaged in recreational activities are generally expected to read materials like these."
Espinoza
,
For these reasons, the district court did not err in concluding that the third Jones factor does not render the Ski School Waiver or the Lift Ticket Waiver unenforceable.
4. Whether the Parties' Intent Was Expressed Clearly and Unambiguously
The fourth and final
Jones
factor is "whether the intention of the parties is expressed in clear and unambiguous language."
Jones
,
The Ski School Waiver contains approximately a page and a half of terms and conditions in small, but not unreadable, font.
5
It prominently identifies itself as, among other things, a "RELEASE OF LIABILITY ... AGREEMENT"-a fact that is reiterated in the subtitle of the agreement by inclusion of the statement "
THIS IS A RELEASE OF LIABILITY & WAIVER OF CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS
." Aplt. App'x 117. The provisions of the waiver include the signer's express acknowledgment and assumption of "
ALL INHERENT DANGERS AND RISKS
of the Activity, including those of a 'skier' (as may be identified by statute or other applicable law)," as well as "
all additional risks and dangers that may result in
...
physical injury and/or death
above and beyond
the inherent dangers and risks of the Activity,
including but not limited to
" a lengthy list of specific events and circumstances that includes "lift loading, unloading, and riding."
AGREE [ S ] TO HOLD HARMLESS, RELEASE, INDEMNIFY, AND NOT TO SUE [VSRI] FOR ANY ... INJURY OR LOSS TO PARTICIPANT, INCLUDING DEATH, WHICH PARTICIPANT MAY SUFFER, ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART OUT OF PARTICIPANT'S PARTICIPATION IN THE ACTIVITY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE CLAIMS BASED ON ANY RELEASED PAR TY'S ALLEGED OR ACTUAL NEGLIGENCE OR BREACH OF ANY CONTRACT AND/OR EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY
*1256 .
The Lift Ticket Waiver-approximately two paragraphs in length-is not as detailed as the Ski School Waiver, but contains somewhat similar language regarding the ticket holder's assumption of risk and waiver of claims. After detailing some of the inherent dangers and risks of skiing that the holder of the ticket assumes, as well as identifying other risks and responsibilities, the Lift Ticket Waiver provides that the "Holder agrees to ASSUME ALL RISKS , inherent or otherwise" and "to hold the ski area harmless for claims to person and property." Id. at 121.
Neither waiver is unduly long nor complicated, unreadable, or overburdened with legal jargon. Most importantly, the intent of the waivers is clear and unambiguous. In addition to the language indicating Dr. Brigance's assumption of all risks of skiing, inherent or otherwise, both waivers contain clear language stating that Dr. Brigance agreed to hold VSRI harmless for injuries to her person as a result of skiing at Keystone. Moreover, the Ski School Waiver clearly and unambiguously provides that Dr. Brigance agreed to "
RELEASE, INDEMNIFY, AND NOT TO SUE
" VSRI for personal injuries arising in whole or in part from her participation in ski lessons, including claims based on VSRI's "
ALLEGED OR ACTUAL NEGLIGENCE
."
Id.
at 117. Dr. Brigance does not argue that any of the language regarding her agreement to hold harmless, indemnify, release, or not to sue VSRI is ambiguous or confusing. And like this and other courts' examination of similarly worded provisions, we conclude the relevant release language of the Ski School Waiver and Lift Ticket Waiver cannot be reasonably understood as expressing anything other than an intent to release or bar suit against VSRI from claims arising, in whole or in part, as a result of Dr. Brigance's decision to ski and participate in ski lessons at Keystone, including claims based on VSRI's negligence.
See
Espinoza
,
Dr. Brigance's argument on appeal regarding the fourth
Jones
factor centers on the assumption-of-the-risk language contained in both waivers. Specifically, Dr. Brigance contends the intent of the waivers is ambiguous because the provisions providing that she assumes all risks of skiing, "inherent or otherwise," conflict with the SSA because the statute's provisions only bar a skier from recovering against a ski area operator "for injury resulting from any of the inherent dangers and risks of skiing."
Dr. Brigance's argument is unavailing for a number of reasons. First, it only addresses the assumption-of-the-risk language contained in each waiver. But the more pertinent provisions of the waivers are those regarding Dr. Brigance's agreement to hold harmless, release, indemnify, and not to sue VSRI. These provisions appear independent from the assumption-of-the-risk language and therefore their plain meaning is unaffected by any potential ambiguity in the "inherent or otherwise" clauses. Dr. Brigance does not contest the clarity of the release provisions and, as previously described, we believe those provisions unambiguously reflect the *1257 parties' intent to release VSRI from claims arising from Dr. Brigance's participation in ski lessons at Keystone.
Second, the Lift Ticket Waiver's "assumes all risks, inherent or otherwise" phrase, as well as a similar phrase contained in the Ski School Waiver, are not ambiguous. Rather, their meanings are clear-the signer of the agreement or holder of the ticket is to assume all risks of skiing, whether inherent to skiing or not. The term "otherwise," when "paired with an adjective or adverb to indicate its contrary"-as is done in both waivers-is best understood to mean "NOT." Webster's Third New Int'l Dictionary 1598 (2002). The plain language and meaning of the phrases therefore reflect a clear intent to cover risks that are not inherent to skiing. Dr. Brigance offers no alternative reading of the phrases and does not specify how "inherent or otherwise" could be understood as only referring to the inherent risks identified in the SSA. And while the Ski School Waiver contains a provision in which the signer agrees to assume all inherent dangers and risks of skiing as may be defined by statute or other applicable law, the next provision of the agreement clearly expands that assumption of risk, stating that the signer "
expressly acknowledge[s] and assume[s] all additional risks and dangers that may result in ... physical injury and/or death
above and beyond
the inherent dangers and risks of the Activity,
including but not limited to
" a rather extensive list of circumstances or events that may occur while skiing, including "lift loading, unloading, and riding." Aplt. App'x at 117. That same provision continues, indicating that the signer understands the description of risks in the agreement is "
NOT
COMPLETE
," but that the signer nevertheless voluntarily chooses to "
EXPRESSLY ASSUME
ALL
RISKS AND DANGERS OF THE ACTIVITY, WHETHER OR NOT DESCRIBED HERE, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, INHERENT OR OTHERWISE
."
Third, the Colorado Supreme Court rejected a similar argument in
B & B Livery, Inc. v. Riehl
,
Finally, the single case relied upon by Dr. Brigance that applies Colorado law is distinguishable. In
Rowan v. Vail Holdings, Inc.
,
Accordingly, the district court did not err in concluding that the fourth Jones factor does not invalidate the waivers.
* * *
Based on the foregoing analysis, we agree with the district court that application of the Jones factors to the Ski School Waiver and Lift Ticket Waiver do not render them unenforceable.
B. The SSA and PTSA
Although analysis of the
Jones
factors is often sufficient to determine the validity of an exculpatory agreement, the Colorado Supreme Court has "identified other public policy considerations invalidating exculpatory agreements, without regard to the
Jones
factors."
Boles
,
In 1965, the Colorado General Assembly enacted the PTSA with the purpose of assisting "in safeguarding life, health, property, and the welfare of the state in the operation of passenger tramways."
Bayer v. Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Inc.
,
The General Assembly enacted the SSA fourteen years later. The SSA "supplements the [PTSA]'s focus on ski lifts, but its principal function is to define the duties of ski areas and skiers with regard to activities and features on the ski slopes."
Id. at 74. The provisions of the SSA indicate that "it is in the interest of the state of Colorado to establish reasonable safety standards for the operation of ski areas and for the skiers using them" and that the SSA's purpose is to supplement a portion of the PTSA by "further defin[ing] the legal responsibilities of ski area operators ... and ... the rights and liabilities existing between the skier and the ski area operator."
Dr. Brigance contends the waivers conflict with the public policy objectives of the SSA and PTSA because enforcing either waiver would allow VSRI to disregard its statutorily defined responsibilities and duties. We find Dr. Brigance's argument unpersuasive.
At the outset, it is worth reiterating that under Colorado law exculpatory agreements are not invalid as contrary to public policy simply because they involve an activity subject to state regulation.
Espinoza
,
It is true that the SSA and PTSA identify various duties and responsibilities that, if violated, may subject a ski area operator to liability. But the acts establish a framework preserving common law negligence actions in the ski and ski lift context,
Bayer
, 960 P.2d at 75, and do nothing to expressly or implicitly preclude private parties from contractually releasing potential common law negligence claims through use of an exculpatory agreement. While "a statute ... need not explicitly bar waiver by contract for the contract provision to be invalid because it is contrary to public policy,"
Stanley v. Creighton Co.
,
Our conclusion that the SSA and PTSA do not bar exculpatory agreements is supported by the Colorado Supreme Court's regular enforcement of exculpatory agreements involving recreational activities, particularly in the context of equine activities, as well as the General Assembly's relatively recent pronouncements regarding the public policy considerations involved in a parent's ability to execute exculpatory agreements on behalf of its child with respect to prospective negligence claims. In 2002, the Colorado Supreme Court concluded that Colorado public policy prohibits a parent or guardian from releasing a minor's prospective claims for negligence.
See
Cooper
,
Notwithstanding the lack of any statutory suggestion that the SSA and PTSA prohibit the enforcement of exculpatory agreements as a matter of public policy, Dr. Brigance contends two Colorado Court of Appeals decisions support her assertion to the contrary. In
Stanley v. Creighton
, the Colorado Court of Appeals analyzed an exculpatory clause in a residential rental agreement under the
Jones
factors and concluded that the agreement involved a public interest sufficient to invalidate the exculpatory clause.
Similarly, Dr. Brigance's reliance on
Phillips v. Monarch Recreation Corp.
,
"Given all this," particularly the SSA's and PTSA's silence with respect to exculpatory agreements, "we do not think it our place to adorn the General Assembly's handiwork with revisions to the [SSA, PTSA, and] common law that it easily could have but declined to undertake for itself."
Espinoza
,
In summary, Colorado's "relatively permissive public policy toward recreational releases" is one "that, no doubt, means some losses go uncompensated."
Espinoza
,
III. CONCLUSION
We AFFIRM the district court's grant of summary judgment in favor of VSRI and, on this alternative basis, its partial grant of VSRI's motion to dismiss.
Although VSRI did not produce an original or copy of the Ski School Waiver signed by Dr. Brigance, it provided evidence that all adults participating in ski lessons at Keystone are required to sign a waiver and that the Ski School Waiver was the only waiver form used by VSRI for adult ski lessons during the 2014-15 ski season. Before it was clear that VSRI could not locate its copy of the signed waiver, Dr. Brigance indicated in discovery responses and deposition testimony that she signed a waiver before beginning ski lessons.
See
Brigance v. Vail Summit Resorts, Inc.
("
Brigance II
"), No. 15-cv-1394-WJM-NYW,
On appeal, Dr. Brigance offers no argument and points to no evidence suggesting that the district court's conclusion was erroneous in light of the evidence and arguments before it. Instead, she merely denies having signed the Ski School Waiver and reiterates that VSRI has yet to produce a signed copy of the waiver. But in response to questioning at oral argument, counsel for Dr. Brigance conceded that this court could proceed with the understanding that Dr. Brigance signed the Ski School Waiver. Oral Argument at 0:41-1:23, Brigance v. Vail Summit Resorts, Inc. , No. 17-1035 (10th Cir. Nov. 13, 2017). Three days later, counsel for Dr. Brigance filed a notice with the court effectively revoking that concession.
Dr. Brigance's assertion that she did not execute the Ski School Waiver is forfeited because she failed to adequately raise it as an issue below.
Avenue Capital Mgmt. II, L.P. v. Schaden
,
party asserting that a fact ... is genuinely disputed must support the assertion by: (A) citing to particular parts of materials in the record ...; or (B) showing that the materials cited do not establish the absence ... of a genuine dispute, or that an adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1)(A)-(B). Dr. Brigance made no such showing below, nor does she attempt to do so on appeal.
The district court properly invoked diversity jurisdiction because Dr. Brigance is a citizen of Florida and VSRI is a Colorado corporation with its principal place of business in Colorado, and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.
See
Dr. Brigance separately argues that the waivers are invalid under the provisions and public policies contained within the SSA, PTSA, and PLA. Although she incorporates these arguments in her analysis of the first Jones factor, we address them separately in Section II.B, infra .
In fact, the district court noted that Dr. Brigance "neither disputes the relevant facts nor counters VSRI's argument that she accepted the contractual terms of the Lift Ticket Waiver by skiing and riding the lifts."
Brigance II
,
Although Dr. Brigance denies that she signed the Ski School Waiver, see supra note 1, she has not made any arguments regarding the readability or font size of the terms and conditions.
Dr. Brigance also argues that the PLA prohibits use of exculpatory agreements as a defense to claims raised under its provisions and that the Ski School Waiver and Lift Ticket Waiver conflict with the public policies set forth in its provisions. But Dr. Brigance forfeited these arguments by failing to raise them in the district court.
Avenue Capital Mgmt. II
,
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Teresa BRIGANCE, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. VAIL SUMMIT RESORTS, INC., Defendant-Appellee.
- Cited By
- 11 cases
- Status
- Published