Opinion ID: 2604317
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Viability of Assumption of Risk Defense

Text: The plaintiffs ask this court to abolish the defense of assumption of risk. In Kansas, the common-law assumption of risk doctrine is restricted to cases involving employer-employee relationships. Smith v. Blakey, Administrator, 213 Kan. 91, 101, 515 P.2d 1062 (1973). This case involves an employment relationship. Therefore, under Jackson v. City of Kansas City, 235 Kan. 278, 680 P.2d 877 (1984), KCPL could raise assumption of risk as a defense. The plaintiffs acknowledge the Jackson court held that comparative negligence principles do not abrogate the doctrine of assumption of risk. Nonetheless, the plaintiffs claim the issue warrants reconsideration because the rationale for retaining the doctrine is no longer persuasive in that it has outlived its utility and it defeats the purpose of comparative fault legislation. In order to consider the viability of the plaintiffs' claim, we first must review the Jackson decision. The Jackson court held: Within its very restricted periphery of application, the common law defense of assumption of risk has not been altered by the adoption of comparative fault, K.S.A. 60-258a, and continues to constitute an absolute bar to recovery. 235 Kan. 278, Syl. ¶ 6. In so holding, the court paid special attention to the fact that prior cases treated the doctrines of assumption of risk and contributory negligence as distinct concepts. The statutory comparative negligence scheme, enacted in 1974 and codified at K.S.A. 1991 Supp. 60-258a, only provides that contributory negligence is not a complete bar to recovery. The statute is silent concerning the effect of comparative negligence principles upon the doctrine of assumption of risk. Therefore, the Jackson court concluded the legislature did not intend 60-258a to apply to the doctrine of assumption of risk. Additionally, the Jackson court noted that two years after the enactment of 60-258a, the legislature amended the affirmative defenses statute, now K.S.A. 1991 Supp. 60-208(c), but did not delete assumption of risk or injury by fellow servant from the list of affirmative defenses. Thus, it was concluded the legislature had the opportunity to abolish the assumption of risk defense, but did not do so, giving an indication it did not intend for the doctrine to be abolished. Based upon this analysis of legislative intent, we held assumption of risk applicable to employer-employee negligence cases not otherwise excluded, such as workers compensation cases. It cannot be ignored that the legislature has had eight years since the Jackson decision to abrogate statutorily assumption of risk and has not done so. We are unwilling now to abolish the doctrine because the legislature has given no indication it desires to do so. Thus, we affirm syllabus ¶ 6 of Jackson v. City of Kansas City, 235 Kan. 278, which reads as follows: Within its very restricted periphery of application, the common law defense of assumption of risk has not been altered by the adoption of comparative fault, K.S.A. 60-258a, and continues to constitute an absolute bar to recovery.