Opinion ID: 3217541
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Willful or Malicious Conduct

Text: Because we find the Academy is entitled to protection under the Recreational Use Act, we reverse the district court’s judgment that Mr. Nelson can recover as a licensee or invitee. The Recreational Use Act does not, however, completely eliminate liability. Liability is still possible for “willful or malicious” failure to warn. The Academy urges us to resolve this question, arguing that several findings of fact by the district court show that no willful or malicious conduct occurred. For example, the district court found that the only government employee who knew about the sinkhole failed to report it, not out of malice, but because he believed the path was not used and, thus, that no one was in danger. The government claims this conduct alone could not be willful or malicious. Mr. Nelson counters that the district court did not adjudicate this issue, and that it -11- should be the first to do so. We agree with Mr. Nelson that the district court should decide this issue in the first instance.