Court Opinion

ID: 9631137
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 10:29:54.773892+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:07:49.119940
License: Public Domain

*363BOYLE, Justice,
dissenting.
I am unable to concur in Part II of the majority opinion and respectfully dissent. The language of I.C. § 6-1103(10) expressly relieves a ski operator from any duty to eliminate, alter or lessen the “risks inherent” in the sport of skiing. In my opinion, however, this limitation on a ski operator’s liability relates only to injuries caused by snow, ice or weather conditions, collisions with lift towers, utility poles, snowmaking equipment, trees, rocks, debris or other objects under or protruding from the snow, variations in the terrain and other factors expressly specified in I.C. § 6-1106.
A ski operator is expressly required by the statute not to “negligently cause injury” to any person. I.C. § 6-1103(10). It is my opinion that the Act contemplates liability for negligence and does not give ski operators total immunity. Once a ski operator has undertaken the placement of markings or warning signs pursuant to the Act it must do so in a manner not to intentionally or negligently cause injury.
The record before us raises genuine issues of material fact as to the ski operator’s possible negligence in the method and manner of placing the sign. Generally, questions of negligence and proximate cause are issues reserved for the trier of fact and in my opinion, summary judgment should not have been granted. I would reverse and allow the case to be presented to a jury to determine whether the ski operator was negligent in the placement of the sign.