ski law

Welcome to Our Collection of Ski Law Articles

A Practical Guideline to Ski Accident Litigation
By James H. Chalat
Paper presented to Avalanche Liability Law & Ski Law in the United States, 2010 LEICLE Annual Conference, Vail, Colorado.
Avalanche Liability Law & Ski Law in the United States, A Practical Guideline to Ski Accident Litigation
By James H. Chalat
Prepared For 27th Annual National CLE Conference, Vail, Colorado, 6 Jan 2009 – 10 Jan 2009.
A Practical Guideline to Ski Accident Litigation for non-U.S. Attorneys
Overview prepared for 2008 SKILEX International Conference, Tarvisio, Italy, Feb.. 28 - March 2, 2008.
Ski Helmet Standards and Use
New ASTM standards for ski helmets and why it matters
2006 Survey of Ski Law in the United States
By James H. Chalat
4th annual Recreation & Adventure Program Law & Liability, Denver, Colorado, April, 2006
Ski Law in the United States: A Practical Guide to Ski Accident Litigation
By James H. Chalat
Ski law covers a broad spectrum of claims and duties of care. This article presents an overview of the duties involved in skier collisions, ski operator collisions and ski lift accidents.
Ski Law in Colorado: The Timorous No Longer Stay at Home
By James H. Chalat, Chris Koupal, Eric Samler
This article provides a current overview of Colorado ski law as it pertains to legal economics, legislation, and ski accident case law. It also compares ski law in other states and offers the Colorado lawyer some practice tips.
Ski Law For Beginners, Intermediates and Experts
By Linda and Jim Chalat
Skier/snowboarder safety has become a significant issue for the ski industry. Its significance is derived from two forces: the competition for the national skiing market, and national attention drawn to ski safety by the media frenzy stimulated by celebrity skier deaths in 1999, and recent homicide proceedings in Colorado.
Restitution and Ski Accidents
By James H. Chalat
After skiing very fast and out of control over a mogul field, Nathan Hall flew over a knoll on the “Riva Ridge” ski run on Vail mountain and collided with Allen Cobb. Mr. Cobb suffered a fractured skull and a fatal brain injury.
Liability of a Skier For Collision With Another Skier
By James H. Chalat
Skiing safety has improved over time, with the improvement of alpine release bindings, heightened awareness of safety rules, and improved safety procedures at ski areas which were prompted by risk management concern over injury claims.
Ski Area's Liability For Skiing Accident
By James H. Chalat
This article treats two types of ski accident cases: (1) the downhill skiing accident which leads to a claim against the ski area operator, (2) the ski lift related accidents which lead to claims against the ski area operator and the lift manufacturer.
Waivers - Or, Please Release me, let me go . . .
By James H. Chalat
Releases, waivers and exculpatory agreements are hot issues in ski accident cases. Currently, ski area operators use any opportunity to obtain skier signatures under language purporting to release the ski area from any negligence, including from violating statutory safety mandates.
1996 Survey of Ski Law in the United States
By James H. Chalat
The principal legal issue pertaining to ski safety, is the scope, effect and/or constitutionality of the so-called "inherent danger" statutes which have proliferated throughout the country.

Other published ski articles: "Colorado Narrows Construction of the Inherent Danger Rule" 45 Trial Talk 10-15 (April 1996); "$2,150,000 Verdict - General Negligence - Skiing Accident" 9 National Jury Verdict Reporter Issue 12 (11/94); "The Constitutional Foundations of Modern American Tort Law," 16 The Colorado Lawyer 970, (September 1987); "The Development of the Standard of Care in Colorado Ski Cases," 15 The Colorado Lawyer 373 (March 1986); "From Wright to Sunday and Beyond," with Feurhelm et al., 4 The Utah Law Review 885 (December 1985); "Ski Collision and Ski Equipment Cases," 34 Trial Talk 303 (10/85); "Michigan's Ski Law," 63 The Michigan Bar Journal 355 (May 1984); "Continuing Changes in Colorado's Ski Law," 13 The Colorado Lawyer 407 (March 198); "Ski Law," Ski Area Management Vol. 21, No. 3 (National Ski Areas Assn., May & June 1983); "The Changing Role of the Ski Patroller," The National Patroller (The National Ski Patrol System, Inc., Winter 1982);"Colorado Ski Act Update," 10 The Colorado Lawyer 161 ( July 1981); "Ski Tips for Attorneys," 9 The Colorado Lawyer 452 (March 1980). Section contribution: Stein, ed., Closing Argument, The Art and the Law, Sect. 331 Jury-Function, p.53 - 56, (Clark Boardman Calahan, Cum. Supp. 1995); Publisher: "Ski Safety News " (1989 --).