Court Opinion

ID: 9704273
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 00:29:19.941806+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:21:59.505089
License: Public Domain

DEL SOLE, J.,
dissents:
¶ 1 Because I believe the Majority incorrectly concludes that the issue of voluntariness in the Assumption of the Risk defense has been established, I must dissent.
¶2 Initially, I note the Majority holds that because the Appellant did not testify that his baseball “coach told him his starting position or scholarship was in jeopardy if he did not play that day ... [or that] he felt his position or scholarship was in danger,” he has failed to establish the involuntariness of his actions. Majority Op. at 651. This analysis fails for two reasons.
¶ 3 First, since assumption of the risk is an affirmative defense, the appellee has the burden of establishing the appellant’s voluntary act. Since the case reaches us following entry of summary judgment, only an admission of Appellant would be sufficient to provide the basis for such a ruling. Having reviewed the deposition of Appellant, there is no admission. The Majority has, I believe, engaged in an unper-missive shifting of the burden of proof on the issue.
¶ 4 Second, I contend that Rutter v. Northeastern Beaver County School District, 496 Pa. 590, 437 A.2d 1198 (1981) is controlling and requires the issue be submitted to a fact finder. In the lead opinion, now Chief Justice Flaherty cited with approval, the Restatement (Second) of Torts § 496 E and its comments involving voluntariness, particularly comment “c” which prohibits a defendant, by its tortuous act, from forcing a person to give up the exercise of a right or privilege in order to avoid a risk.
¶ 5 As the court in Rutter held:
There is at least a question for the jury as to whether appellant was compelled to accept the risk of playing “jungle football” in order to protect his right or privilege to play (varsity) football (§ 496 E, comment “c”). If he was so compelled, the acceptance of risk was not voluntary, and thus, he was not subject to the bar the rule.
Id. at 605, 437 A.2d at 1205.
¶ 6 Applying this analysis to the present case requires that the issue of voluntariness, at the least, must be submitted to a jury. Further, where the plaintiff believes, even if incorrectly, that he must participate, the defense would not apply.
¶ 7 For these reasons, I dissent and would reverse the entry of summary judgment.