Ohio High Court Says Skiers Assume Ordinary Risks

The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that skiers assume the sport’s ordinary risks and can only recover damages for collision injuries by proving the other skier was acting recklessly or intentionally.

The court’s 6-1 decision stemmed from a 2007 collision between skier Angela Horvath, of Rocky River in suburban Cleveland, and a juvenile snowboarder at a ski resort in Summit County.

Horvath filed a lawsuit against the juvenile and his parents, alleging the snowboarder acted negligently, recklessly and willfully in causing the accident.

Lower courts split over whether Horvath produced evidence of those claims, and the Supreme Court ruling sent the case back to a judge for more deliberations on any evidence of reckless or intentional behavior.