Court Opinion

ID: 3156570
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-11-20 20:02:45.256954+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:56:41.566186
License: Public Domain

Filed 10/23/15 Certified for Publication 11/20/15 (order attached)

                   COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                               DIVISION ONE

                                        STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SCOTT GRIFFIN,                                                  D066715

        Plaintiff and Appellant,

        v.                                                      (Super. Ct. No. 37-2013-00044186-
                                                                                CU-PO-CTL)
THE HAUNTED HOTEL, INC.,

        Defendant and Respondent.

        APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Katherine

A. Bacal, Judge. Affirmed.

        Ardalan & Associates, P. Christopher Ardalan and Mark K. Drew for Plaintiff and

Appellant.

        Murchison & Cumming, Jefferson S. Smith, David M. Hall and Scott J. Loeding

for Defendant and Respondent.

        In October 2011 Appellant Scott Griffin purchased a ticket to experience The

Haunted Trail, an outdoor haunted house type of attraction where actors jump out of dark

spaces often inches away from patrons, holding prop knives, axes, chainsaws, or severed

                                                         1
body parts. After passing what he believed was the exit and "giggling and laughing" with

his friends about how much fun they had, Griffin unexpectedly was confronted by a final

scare known as the "Carrie" effect—so named because, like the horror film Carrie,

patrons are led to believe the attraction is over, only to be met by one more extreme

fright. This was delivered by an actor wielding a gas powered chainsaw (the chain had

been removed), who approached Griffin, frightened him, and gave chase when Griffin

ran away. Griffin was injured when he fell while fleeing. Griffin sued The Haunted

Hotel, Inc. (Haunted Hotel), which operates The Haunted Trail, alleging negligence and

assault.

       "Under the primary assumption of risk doctrine, there is no duty to eliminate or

protect a plaintiff against risks that are inherent in a sport or [recreational] activity."

(Calhoon v. Lewis (2000) 81 Cal.App.4th 108, 115.) The trial court granted Haunted

Hotel's motion for summary judgment, determining under the primary assumption of risk

doctrine Haunted Hotel did not breach any duty to Griffin.

       We affirm. The risk that a patron will be frightened, run, and fall is inherent in the

fundamental nature of a haunted house attraction like The Haunted Trail. Moreover, on

this record there is no evidence creating a triable issue Haunted Hotel unreasonably

increased the risk of injury beyond those inherent risks or acted recklessly.

                                                2
                  FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

       A. The Haunted Trail

       Haunted Hotel operates four Halloween attractions in San Diego County,

including The Haunted Trail located in Balboa Park. The Haunted Trail operates from

September through October, ending on Halloween.

       The Haunted Trail features actors in ghoulish costumes who frighten, startle and

sometimes chase patrons amid loud noises and flashing strobe lights in a one mile loop in

Balboa Park. Patrons follow a narrow trail in the natural park setting, passing from one

horror set to the next, each telling a different gruesome story. Along the way, actors

jump out of dark spaces or spring from around corners, often inches away from patrons,

holding bloody prop knives, axes or other weapons, or a severed body part.

       If a patron becomes frightened and runs away, one of the actors will often chase

after the person. The Haunted Trail played an orientation audiotape for every group of

visitors who attended the attraction in 2011, which states:

          "Our creatures will not grab you, however, they may accidentally
          bump into you. Oh, you will be scared sh–less and try to run away,
          but in the end our creatures will chase you down like the chickens
          that you are!"1

       In 2011 the "Frequently Asked Questions" part of The Haunted Trail's Web site

stated, "[Y]ou will not be grabbed or pushed," and warned, "Running is the main cause of

minor injuries. Make sure to follow the rules and DON'T run and you should be fine!"

1      Griffin's lawyers admitted the audiotape was played for "every" group of visitors
who attended in 2011. However, Griffin testified in his deposition he did not remember
hearing it.
                                             3
Signs at the entrance stated, "Due to natural surroundings of the park the ground may be

uneven with some obstacles such as tree roots, rocks, etc. Be careful."

       The parties do not dispute that the ticket Griffin purchased states, "This attraction

contains high impact scares" and "is not suitable for people with heart conditions or

people prone to seizures; is not recommended for children under age 10; and pregnant

women, infants and children being carried will not be allowed entry." The Haunted Trail

instructs its employees to "stay away" if a child is crying, not to chase children at all, and

to "stay clear of people who are crying."

       In 2011 The Haunted Trail employed uniformed off-duty San Diego police

officers, a private security force, and an emergency medical technician service to be on-

site all weekend nights. All were present the night Griffin attended.

       Photographs on The Haunted Trail Web site featured costumed actors holding

chainsaws. Griffin purchased his ticket on the Web site. The chainsaw-wielding actors

are the most popular feature of The Haunted Trail. The chainsaw scenes have been

mentioned in radio advertising or shown on television.

       At the final scene along the trail, three people with prop chainsaws—gas powered

chainsaws with the chains removed—menace patrons as they walk to an opening in the

temporary chain link fence, covered with a dark screen, that runs along the edge of the

trail. That opening appears to be the exit, the end of the attraction.

       What follows is something Haunted Hotel calls the "Carrie" effect, a final scare

patterned after the closing scene of the horror movie Carrie when the audience is led to

believe that the terror is over, only to be given one last jolting scare. When patrons have

                                              4
walked through the opening in the fence, they regroup on the park access road, thinking

the attraction is over. But this is a fake exit. The access road is controlled by Haunted

Hotel. A chainsaw-wielding actor with a gas powered chainsaw suddenly appears, starts

the chainsaw, and charges at the patrons—providing a final scare. Although the chain

has been removed from the chainsaw, it "still has the whole sound, the whole smell of a

chain saw, and that's what gives the effect of—people think it's a real chain saw." During

this last encounter, patrons are most prone to run away, with the actor giving chase.

       The access road is visible to surrounding public space. Families "actually come

and camp out and watch" because "it's fun to see when someone gets freaked out when a

chain saw comes and chases an individual."

       In the 14 years The Haunted Trial has been operating, over 250,000 patrons have

attended the event. In the three years preceding Griffin's incident, between 10 and 15

people fell while running from the chainsaw-wielding actor in this final scare. Three

people fell the night Griffin attended. None of the15 who fell reported being injured.

       B. Griffin's Incident

       Near Halloween in October 2011 Griffin learned some friends were planning to

attend The Haunted Trail. Griffin had previously attended Knott's "Scary" Farm and

possibly "Fright Night" at Universal Studios. He had been to Balboa Park before, but he

had never heard of The Haunted Trail and knew nothing about the attraction.

       Griffin and his group entered the attraction, but Griffin recalled little about the

preliminaries, acknowledging that he was "not paying attention" to his surroundings, but

rather "laughing, visiting" with friends. As he walked through The Haunted Trail, Griffin

                                              5
was, to use his own words, "scared pretty darn good." He was not chased along the trail

and said "it was fun."

       At the final scene along the trail, Griffin heard chainsaws. At first, he was

"shocked," but he just "walk[ed] through . . . I knew we were almost ending . . . we had

already had so much fun already through the thingy, so it was okay."

       After this final scene, Griffin headed for the "gate," which he believed was an exit,

"ending the experience."

          "[T]here was clearly, to me, an exit that the event is over because
          inside everything is roped off, you are on a path. It's very clear
          where you're going. And the gates and the exit, to me, were clear
          that we were done with the experience."

       Griffin and his friends were standing on the access road, "giggling and laughing"

and saying "how fun was that?" This area, a "well-lit even surface," is actually controlled

by The Haunted Trail and is part of the show

       Griffin testified in deposition that suddenly, a "gentleman" started a chainsaw and

"came at me with it." Griffin tried to "back away from him" but "he just kept following

me." Griffin asked the man to "stop" and when he did not stop, Griffin "started running

away because it felt unsafe with his chainsaw because he was pointing it at me . . . ."

       Griffin testified, "I started to try to get away from him, and, boy, he seemed to

really enjoy that" and "I really got scared because he was really at me, with me at it, he

was unlike the other people. And we had already exited the venue. He was right into my

space." "He was literally coming at me. He selected me . . . . [¶] . . . He was pointing it

[chainsaw] right at me and it was live and active; you could literally smell the gas

                                             6
. . . hear the sound and everything. Yes, I felt like he was handling that very dangerous

[sic]. . . . [¶] . . . [¶] It was a real chainsaw. . . . [¶] . . . [¶] . . . This gentlemen did not

keep a safe distance . . . and the more I backed away, the more he followed me. I asked

him to stop; he wouldn't. I started running. He was literally running after me. And I

really felt unsafe. And then I started getting really fearful that something was going to

happen, because here's some stranger—I don't even know who he is—with a live, active

chainsaw running after me with it. [¶] . . . [¶] . . . I was fearful for my safety big time."

"I really felt that he could have tripped, that chainsaw could have fell down, and I could

dangerously [sic] get hurt by it. That's what I felt."

       While being chased and running an unspecified distance, Griffin fell, injuring his

wrist. In deposition, Griffin acknowledged "it is the point of The Haunted Trail to scare

the people who attend" and "not many people would attend the event if it were not scary."

       A representative of The Haunted Trail testified in deposition, "you scare the hell

out of them as much as you possibly can, and that's what they're paying us for, that's why

they come." He stated Griffin "was never in harm. . . . He ran. He chose to run. You

can't chase a human that doesn't run. If he had just stood there and said 'stop,' then it's not

fun. You move on. You scare somebody else."

       C. The Trial Court Grants Summary Judgment

       In March 2014 Griffin filed a first amended complaint against Haunted Hotel for

general negligence, negligent hiring, training, supervision, and retention, and assault.

Overruling a defense motion to strike, the trial court allowed the amended complaint to

                                                  7
allege punitive damages, in part because "the FAC [first amended complaint] now alleges

that defendant trained employees to chase patrons beyond the exit."

       In June 2014 the Haunted Hotel filed a motion for summary judgment, asserting

"the primary assumption of risk doctrine, as recently applied by the California Supreme

Court in Nalwa v. Cedar Fair, L.P. (2012) 55 Cal.4th 1148 [(Nalwa)], operates as a bar

against claims by the patrons of 'scare' attractions or 'haunts' for injuries allegedly

sustained as a result of being frightened, startled, chased or otherwise menaced during the

activity by actors who are employed to do just that."

       Griffin filed opposition, asserting the "fatal flaw" in Haunted Hotel's theory was

"Mr. Griffin was not injured while on the Haunted Trail, and the reason why he ran had

nothing to do with being scared by an actor's fantasy role play." (Emphasis omitted.)

Citing Luna v Vela (2008) 169 Cal.App.4th 102, 113, Griffin's lawyers also asserted, "the

primary assumption of the risk doctrine does not apply in context where a Defendant is

accused of engaging in oppressive, malicious or reckless conduct." (Emphasis omitted.)

       At the hearing, the trial court focused on whether the Carrie effect scare occurred

inside the attraction:

           "The Court: Well, let me ask you this because it appeared to me that
           major issue is whether the gate was, in fact, an exit and the end of
           the show or whether the gate was what appears, at least defendants
           are arguing, a fake exit and all part of the show. [¶] And if that's the
           case and the plaintiff was still within the bounds of what was
           controlled by defendant, that's the experience he paid for. . . .
           [¶] . . . [¶] . . . That's the question. Where does the experience end?"

       After oral argument, the court granted the motion for summary judgment, stating,

"the argument that defendant went beyond its boundaries is not supported by the

                                               8
evidence. It appears all the activities took place on and within defendant's boundaries,

although plaintiff was unaware of that fact. That awareness, that subjective awareness is

not what is required. And given further what the inherent nature of this event was, it does

not appear inappropriate or actionable." In its order, the trial court added:

            "Patrons of The Haunted Trail pay for the opportunity to be scared
            and The Haunted Trail, by design, is scary. Plaintiff argues the
            assumption of risk doctrine does not apply because he was chased
            after he believed the event was over and 'even football fields have
            sidelines.' [Citation.] However, the doctrine 'does not depend on the
            particular plaintiff's subjective knowledge or appreciation of the
            potential risk.' Knight[ v. Jewett (1992)] 3 Cal.4th [296,] 316
            [(Knight)]. [¶] . . . [W]hile the plaintiff believed he had gone
            through an exit he was still within the scary experience he
            purchased. The risk that plaintiff might be scared enough to run
            away is inherent in the fundamental nature of a haunted house
            attraction. [¶] . . . [W]ho would want to go to a haunted house that is
            not scary?"

       The court entered judgment in favor of The Haunted Hotel. Griffin timely

appealed.

                                        DISCUSSION

                                    I. Standard of Review

       "We review a grant of summary judgment de novo and decide independently

whether the facts not subject to triable dispute warrant judgment for the moving party as

a matter of law." (Luna v. Vela, supra, 169 Cal.App.4th at p. 107.) "Determining

whether the primary assumption of risk doctrine applies is a legal question to be decided

by the court." (Beninati v. Black Rock City, LLC (2009) 175 Cal.App.4th 650, 656

(Beninati).)

                                              9
                       II. The Primary Assumption of Risk Doctrine

       Under the primary assumption of risk doctrine, an operator of a business that

provides a recreational activity posing inherent risks of injury has no duty to eliminate

those inherent risks. (Nalwa, supra, 55 Cal.4th at p. 1162.) Knight, supra, 3 Cal.4th 296

illustrates the concept in the context of a ski resort, explaining that because moguls on a

ski run are an inherent risk of the sport, a resort operator would have no liability to a

plaintiff who fell while skiing over a mogul. (Id. at pp. 315–316.)

       In Nalwa, supra, the Supreme Court held primary assumption of risk is not limited

to sports, but also applies to other recreational activities "'involving an inherent risk of

injury to voluntary participants . . . where the risk cannot be eliminated without altering

the fundamental nature of the activity.'" (Id. at p. 1156.) In Nalwa, the Court applied

primary assumption of risk where the plaintiff was injured on an amusement park bumper

car ride.

       Primary assumption of risk has been applied in other recreational contexts. For

example, in Beninati, supra, 175 Cal.App.4th 650, the court applied the doctrine where

the plaintiff, who attended the Burning Man Festival, was himself burned when he

tripped and fell into the remnants of the burning man effigy. The court also applied

primary assumption of risk in Amezcua v. Los Angeles Harley-Davidson, Inc. (2011) 200

Cal.App.4th 217, which involved a noncompetitive group motorcycle ride.

       Which risks are inherent in a given recreational activity is suitable for resolution

on summary judgment. (Nalwa, supra, 55 Cal.4th at p. 1158.) Such a determination is a

legal question within the province of the courts and is reached from common knowledge.

                                              10
(Luna v. Vela, supra, 169 Cal.App.4th at p. 110.) The court may also consider its "own

or common experience with the recreational activity . . . and documentary evidence

introduced by the parties on a motion for summary judgment." (Nalwa, supra, 55 Cal.4th

at p. 1158.)

       Under the primary assumption of risk doctrine, "a court need not ask what risks a

particular plaintiff subjectively knew of and chose to encounter, but instead must evaluate

the fundamental nature of the [recreational activity] and the defendant's role in or

relationship to that [activity] to determine whether the defendant owes a duty to protect a

plaintiff from the particular risk of harm." (Avila v. Citrus Community College Dist.

(2006) 38 Cal.4th 148, 161 (Avila).)

       Primary assumption of risk does not provide absolute immunity. A participant and

an owner/operator still owe certain duties of care. Such duties vary according to the role

played by particular defendant involved in the activity. (Luna v. Vela, supra, 169

Cal.App.4th at p. 109.) For example, a batter, i.e., a participant in a baseball game, has

no duty to avoid carelessly throwing a bat after hitting a ball—such conduct being an

inherent risk of the sport. However, the ballpark owner, because of his or her different

relationship to the sport, may have a duty to take reasonable measures to protect

spectators from carelessly thrown bats. (Ibid.)

       Owners and operators "owe participants the duty not to unreasonably increase the

risk of injury" beyond those inherent in the activity. (Nalwa, supra, 55 Cal.4th at p.

1162; Fazio v. Fairbanks Ranch Country Club (2015) 233 Cal.App.4th 1053, 1059

(Fazio).)

                                             11
       Coparticipants in a recreational activity may be liable if their conduct is "so

reckless as to be totally outside the range of the ordinary activity" involved. (Knight,

supra, 3 Cal.4th at p. 320.) Conduct is "'"totally outside the range of ordinary activity

involved"'" if prohibiting that conduct would "'"neither deter vigorous participation"'" in

the activity nor "'"otherwise fundamentally alter"'" its nature. (Towns v. Davidson (2007)

147 Cal.App.4th 461, 470.)

       In moving for summary judgment, Haunted Hotel had the burden to establish: (1)

primary assumption of risk applied to this recreational activity; and (2) the undisputed

evidence established as a matter of law Haunted Hotel did not (i) unreasonably increase

the risk of harm beyond those risks inherent in the Haunted Trail; and (ii) intentionally or

recklessly injure Griffin. (Fazio, supra, 233 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1060, 1063.)

                III. The Trial Court Properly Entered Summary Judgment

       A. Primary Assumption of Risk Applies to the Haunted Trail

       The trial court correctly applied primary assumption of risk to the recreational

activity of the Haunted Trail. The doctrine applies to recreational activities "'involving

an inherent risk of injury to voluntary participants . . . where the risk cannot be

eliminated without altering the fundamental nature of the activity.'" (Nalwa, supra, 55

Cal.4th at p. 1156.) In Nalwa, the Supreme Court applied primary assumption of risk to a

bumper car amusement ride because the whole point of a bumper car is to bump and

"[y]ou pretty much can't have a bumper car unless you have bumps." (Id. at p. 1157.)

Bumper car collisions carry an inherent risk of minor injuries, and the risk cannot be

                                             12
eliminated without changing the basic character of the activity. "'Indeed, who would

want to ride a tapper car at an amusement park?'" (Id. at p. 1158.)

       Similarly here, the point of The Haunted Trail is to scare people, and the risk that

someone will become scared and react by running away cannot be eliminated without

changing the basic character of the activity. As the trial court aptly noted, "[W]ho would

want to go to a haunted house that is not scary?" (See also Moar, Case Law from the

Crypt, The Law of Halloween 83-Oct N.Y. St. B.J. 10, (Oct. 2011) [discussing haunted

house personal injury cases and concluding, "Patrons in a Halloween haunted house are

expected to be surprised, startled and scared by the exhibits but the operator does not

have a duty to guard against patrons reacting in bizarre, frightened and unpredictable

ways."].)

       B. Griffin's Arguments Against Applying Primary Assumption of Risk
          Are Without Merit

       On appeal, Griffin concedes primary assumption of risk applies to a haunted house

activity, at least to the extent injuries occur within the boundaries of the attraction.

Nevertheless, for a variety of reasons, Griffin contends the court erred in applying the

doctrine in this case. As explained below, none of Griffin's contentions has merit.

       1. Duty is a question of law

       Citing Luna v. Vela, supra, 169 Cal.App.4th at pages 112-114, Griffin contends

"[w]hether a particular risk is within the inherent risk of a particular activity is a triable

issue of fact for the jury to decide and is inappropriate for resolution at the summary

judgment stage."

                                               13
       However, Griffin incorrectly states the law. "The determinant of duty, 'inherent

risk,' is to be decided solely as a question of law and based on the general characteristics

of the sport activity and the parties' relationship to it." (Staten v. Superior Court (1996)

45 Cal.App.4th 1628, 1635; Nalwa, supra, 55 Cal.4th at p. 1158.) "Judges may rely on

their own or common experience with recreational activity in deciding 'inherent risk

questions.'" (Cann v. Stefanec (2013) 217 Cal.App.4th 462, 469.) "Since the existence of

the primary assumption of the risk is dependent upon the existence of a legal duty, and

since duty is an issue of law to be decided by the court, the applicability of that defense is

amenable to resolution by summary judgment." (Freeman v. Hale (1994) 30 Cal.App.4th

1388, 1395.)

       The case upon which Griffin relies, Luna v. Vela, does not support, but rather

refutes, Griffin's argument. In Luna v. Vela the court held, "'The determinant of duty,

"inherent risk," is to be decided solely as a question of law and . . . is necessarily reached

from the common knowledge of judges . . . .'" (Luna v. Vela, supra, 169 Cal.App.4th at

p. 110.)2

       2. Griffin's subjective fear

       Griffin also asserts that even if being frightened is an inherent risk of the Haunted

Trail, there is a triable issue about the "type" of "fear" Griffin experienced. More

specifically, Griffin contends his injuries were not caused by his reaction to "fun" fear—

2       On the entirely separate issue of whether the defendant unreasonably increased
the risk of harm beyond the inherent risk of the activity, Luna v. Vela held that on the
record there, a triable issue of fact existed precluding summary judgment. (Luna v. Vela,
supra, 169 Cal.App.4th at p. 112.)
                                              14
which he defines as "the purpose for why he and others go to such scare events." Rather,

Griffin asserts, he was fearful of the "real, actual danger of physical injury that an

irresponsible employee was creating" by mishandling the chainsaw. According to

Griffin's lawyers, "Mr. Griffin made it clear [in his deposition testimony] that his fear

was not a mere reaction to a startling, scary appearance as a scary maniac, but instead, the

real and actual fear that one of Respondent's employees was acting in a dangerous and

reckless manner and, as a result, was creating an actual physical danger."

       We reject Griffin's argument for two reasons. First, Griffin's deposition testimony

does not support his lawyer's theory that Griffin ran away because he knew the person

chasing him was a Haunted Trail actor and was fearful of the way the employee was

handling the chainsaw. As quoted below, Griffin testified he thought the Haunted Trail

attraction had already ended, and he believed the chainsaw-wielding assailant was not

part of the show:

          "[H]e started his chainsaw, and his chainsaw was going, and I really
          got scared because he was really at me, with me at it, he was unlike
          the other people. And we had already exited the venue. He was
          right into my space." (Italics added.)

          [U]nlike the ones inside, they are behind the guided ropes, and it felt
          completely self [sic] and staged, and it felt safe and I never got
          scared."

          But that was not what this gentleman did with his chainsaw. This
          gentleman did not keep a safe distance. He did come at me with it,
          and the more I backed away, the more he followed me. I asked him
          to stop; he wouldn't. I started running. He was literally running
          after me. And I really felt unsafe."

          And then I started getting really fearful that something was going to
          happen, because here's some stranger—I don't even know who he

                                              15
           is—with a live, active chainsaw running after me with it." (Italics
           added.)

        Contrary to his assertions on appeal, Griffin's deposition testimony dovetails

perfectly into applying primary assumption of risk. The risk inherent in the Haunted

Trail's Carrie effect ending—that a patron would be lulled into a false sense of safety by a

fake exit, and then be confronted with an extreme scare event that would cause the person

to flee (and fall while fleeing)—is exactly the risk Griffin experienced.

        Second, even assuming Griffin's lawyer's theory is correct, i.e., Griffin knew the

whole scene was fake, but was afraid because the actor was mishandling what appeared

to be a live chainsaw—Griffin's subjective state of mind is simply irrelevant in this

context. Because primary assumption of risk focuses on the question of duty, it is not

dependent on either the plaintiff's implied consent to, or subjective appreciation of, the

potential risk. (Knight, supra, 3 Cal.4th at p. 316.) Thus, even if Griffin was injured

from his reaction to "scary fear" rather than "fun" fear, his subjective mental state is

irrelevant. (Cann v. Stefanec (2013) 217 Cal.App.4th 462, 471.) "[A] court need not ask

what risks a particular plaintiff subjectively knew of and chose to encounter, but instead

must evaluate the fundamental nature of the [activity] and the defendant's role in or

relationship to that [activity] in order to determine whether the defendant owes a duty to

protect a plaintiff from the particular risk of harm." (Avila, supra, 38 Cal.4th 148 at p.

161.)

                                             16
       3. The location of the Carrie effect scare

       Griffin also contends that primary assumption of risk does not apply because "the

location of the final scare took place outside the boundary of the Haunted Trail."

(Emphasis omitted.) He contends there should be a "simple bright line rule" that a

haunted house confines its "scary conduct" to the "boundaries of the event."

       Griffin's argument fails because the boundaries of the attraction are defined by

Haunted Hotel, not its patrons. It is undisputed the attraction included the access road

where Griffin was chased, ran, and apparently fell. Undisputed fact #25 states, "When

parties have 'exited' through opening in the fence, they regroup on the park access road,

also controlled by Defendant during the weeks of the event, thinking the attraction is

over. Then, one of the chainsaw-wielding actors suddenly appears and charges at the

patrons one last time—providing a final scare." (Italics added.) Undisputed facts #50

and #51 state Griffin was standing on this access road when the chainsaw-wielding actor

appeared and started chasing him. The record does not contain evidence of the exact

location where Griffin fell; however, there is no evidence Griffin was chased beyond the

access road, which was controlled by Haunted Hotel and part of The Haunted Trail

activity. Indeed, after inviting Griffin's lawyer to identify evidence that the incident

occurred off-site, and hearing him cite none, the trial court concluded, "the argument that

defendant went beyond its boundaries is not supported by the evidence."

       Griffin also argues that "at minimum," whether his proposed "bright line rule"

would inherently alter the basic nature of scare events like The Haunted Trail is a jury

question that should not be resolved on summary judgment. However, as already noted,

                                             17
determining what risks are "inherent" is a question of law. (Nalwa, supra, 55 Cal.4th at

p. 1158.)

       4. Revoked consent

       Finally, Griffin argues there is a triable issue he revoked his consent to assuming

the risk of being frightened because he repeatedly told the actor chasing him to "stop."

However, Griffin's argument fails because "[p]rimary assumption of risk focuses on the

legal question of duty." (Lilley v. Elk Grove Unified School Dist. (1998) 68 Cal.App.4th

939, 943.) Primary assumption of risk "does not depend upon a plaintiff's implied

consent to injury, nor is the plaintiff's subjective awareness or expectation relevant."

(Ibid.) For example, in Cann v. Stefanec, supra, the plaintiff was injured by a weight

dropped by a fellow swim team member during a workout session. The plaintiff argued

primary assumption of risk did not apply because "she did not impliedly consent to

having a weight dropped on her head." (Cann, supra, 217 Cal.App.4th at p. 471.) The

appellate court rejected that argument, stating primary assumption of risk "'does not

depend upon a plaintiff's implied consent to injury . . . .'" (Ibid.)3

3      For the first time in his reply brief, Griffin argues that fear of physical harm "is not
something that is an inherent part of the cultural experience of Halloween." (Italics
added, original emphasis omitted.) Arguments made for the first time in a reply brief are
not considered. Moreover, this case does not involve the cultural experience of
Halloween, i.e., pumpkin carving, trick or treating with young children, or even bobbing
for apples. It involves an adult who pays money to experience extreme fright, and
receives exactly what he paid for.
                                              18
       C. There Is No Evidence Creating a Triable Issue That Haunted Hotel
       Unreasonably Increased the Risks Beyond Those Inherent in the Activity

       The doctrine of primary assumption of risk "'does not grant unbridled legal

immunity to all defendants.'" (Fazio v. Fairbanks Ranch Country Club, supra, 233

Cal.App.4th at p. 1059.) An owner or operator still has a duty to use due care not to

increase the risks to a participant over and above those inherent in the activity. (Ibid.)

Accordingly, a defendant who moves for summary judgment must establish its conduct

did not increase the risk of harm to participants. (Id. at p. 1060.)

       The Supreme Court has stated that "on a sufficient record," summary judgment is

appropriate in primary assumption of risk cases. (Shin v. Ahn (2007) 42 Cal.4th 482,

500.) For example, in Beninati, supra, 175 Cal.App.4th at pages 660-661, involving an

attendee at the burning man event who fell into the fire, the court affirmed summary

judgment because there was no evidence defendant "did anything that increased the

inherent risk of harm to [plaintiff] normally associated with entering an area surrounded

by fire." In contrast, this Court reversed summary judgment in a primary assumption of

risk case involving a fall injury where there was conflicting evidence on the adequacy of

lighting where plaintiff fell. (Fazio, supra, 233 Cal.App.4th at p. 1063.)

       Griffin contends summary judgment was improperly granted, asserting there is a

triable issue Haunted Hotel unreasonably increased the inherent risk of harm. Griffin

notes The Haunted Trail's website warns patrons not to run: "Running is the main cause

of minor injuries. Make sure to follow the rules and DON'T run and you should be fine."

Yet, Griffin argues, the Haunted Trail failed to follow its own safety rule by encouraging

                                              19
its patrons to run by stating: "Oh, you will be scared sh–less and try to run away, but in

the end our creatures will chase you down like the chickens that you are." Moreover,

Griffin claims Haunted Hotel "chose to encourage running in the dark in the

woods . . . ."! (Italics added.)(AOB 27)! In his reply brief, Griffin states Haunted Hotel

failed to respond to this argument in its own brief, and therefore, "Respondent's failure to

contest this area, independently, warrants reversal."

       Addressing Griffin's last point first—Haunted Hotel's brief does address this issue,

albeit obliquely, and only in a footnote at the bottom of page 50. There, Haunted Hotel

states, "The Nalwa Court also expressly rejected Appellant's argument that the Haunted

Trail's website rules discouraging running impose a legal tort duty upon Respondent."

       While placing a respondent's argument in a footnote may be a tactical mistake

because it could be easily overlooked, even a respondent's complete failure to address an

appellant's argument does not require us to treat the failure to respond as a concession the

argument has merit. (Kruger v. Department of Motor Vehicles (1993) 13 Cal.App.4th

541, 546.) In fact, if a respondent in a civil case files no brief at all, we still examine the

record to see if it supports any claims of error made by the appellant. (Christina L. v.

Chauncey B. (2014) 229 Cal.App.4th 731, 734, fn. 1.)

       Griffin cites no authority for his contention "reversal is compelled" when a

respondent fails to address an appellant's argument. We could reject his argument on that

ground alone. (Ochoa v. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (1998) 61 Cal.App.4th 1480, 1488,

fn. 3.) Moreover, if such a rule were adopted, it would require a respondent to respond to

his or her opponent's every argument, no matter how meritless. This would often

                                              20
needlessly lengthen briefs and resulting needless expense to clients. Failing to respond to

an opponent's argument does not warrant the inflexible forfeiture rule Griffin proposes.

(People v. Hill (1992) 3 Cal.4th 959, 995, fn. 3 overruled on other grounds in Price v.

Superior Court (2001) 25 Cal.4th 1046, 1069, fn. 13.)

       Turning to the merits, Griffin's arguments are unsupported by the record. For

example, Griffin contends the Haunted Trail "chose to encourage running in the dark

woods." However, it is undisputed the area where Griffin was chased was not in the

woods but rather was on even pavement and was "well-lit." (Italics added.)

       It is true that Haunted Hotel recognized there was a risk of harm from running, and

yet knew patrons were prone to run while being chased in the Carrie effect scene. But

Griffin errs in concluding these facts create a triable issue Haunted Hotel unreasonably

increased the risk of harm beyond those inherent in a haunted house experience. As

explained, an inherent risk of a fright-event such as The Haunted Trail is patrons will

become frightened and run. Therefore, under the primary assumption of risk doctrine,

Haunted Hotel had no duty to protect Griffin from or eliminate that risk.

       The scope of Haunted Hotel's duty is to not unreasonably increase the inherent

risk a patron would be surprised, started, or scared by the Carrie effect scene, causing the

patron to run and fall. Griffin cites no evidence raising even a reasonable inference that

any action or inaction by Haunted Hotel increased the risk of harm to Griffin beyond

those inherent in an intensely scary amusement attraction, or that such risk could have

been mitigated without altering the nature of the attraction Griffin was voluntarily

participating in.

                                             21
       For this reason, the instant case is far different from Luna v. Vela, supra, 169

Cal.App.4th at page 112, where there was evidence the defendant increased the risk of

tripping over a front-yard volleyball net, and Fazio v. Fairbanks Ranch Country Club,

supra, 233 Cal.App.4th at p. 1063, where there was conflicting evidence on the adequacy

of lighting on the stage where plaintiff fell.

       The warnings Haunted Hotel gave to not run, and its conduct in encourage patrons

to run do not change the analysis. In Nalwa, the Supreme Court considered a similar

argument and upheld summary judgment. There, Plaintiff's injury occurred when her

bumper car was bumped head-on. (Nalwa, supra, 55 Cal.4th at p. 1152.) The defendant

amusement ride owner in Nalwa had established rules designed to discourage head-on

bumping, but knew head-on bumping still occurred. Affirming summary judgment, the

Nalwa Court rejected the argument the defendant's rules created a triable issue it had

unreasonably increased the risk of harm. The Court stated, "[W]hile plaintiff points to

defendant's efforts to discourage head-on bumping, such voluntary efforts at minimizing

risk do not demonstrate defendant bore a legal duty to do so; not every rule imposed by

an organizer or agreed to by participants in a recreational activity reflects a legal duty

enforceable in tort." (Id. at p. 1163.) Similarly here, Haunted Hotel's efforts to minimize

risks does not create a triable issue Haunted Hotel unreasonably increased the risk of

falling beyond that inherent in the frightening event.

                                                 22
       D. There Is No Evidence Creating a Triable Issue That Haunted Hotel Acted
       Recklessly

       In applying primary assumption of risk, a coparticipant in a sport breaches a duty

of care "only if the participant intentionally injures another player or engages in conduct

that is so reckless as to be totally outside the range of ordinary activity involved in the

sport." (Knight, supra, 3 Cal.4th at p. 320, fn. omitted.) In a primary assumption of risk

case, summary judgment is appropriate where there is no evidence the defendant

intentionally or recklessly injured the plaintiff. (Cheong v. Antablin (1997) 16 Cal.4th

1063, 1066.)

       Griffin contends the court erred in granting summary judgment because there is a

triable issue Haunted Hotel "recklessly and intentionally caused customers, including Mr.

Griffin, to run despite being aware of a serious trip and fall hazard." Griffin contends

Haunted Hotel acted recklessly because prior to Griffin's incident, 15 people had run and

fallen at The Haunted Trail, and "at least" 10 of these were on the access road when

patrons were chased by the actor carrying the chainsaw.

       Reckless conduct involves a "'conscious choice of a course of action . . . with

knowledge of the serious danger to others involved in it.'" (Mammoth Mountain Ski Area

v. Graham (2006) 135 Cal.App.4th 1367, 1373.) Reckless conduct is the "'"deliberate

disregard" of the "high degree of probability" that an injury will occur.'" (Towns v.

Davidson (2007) 147 Cal.App.4th 461, 470.)

       Here, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Griffin, in the 14 years

The Haunted Trail has been operating before this incident, at least 250,000 patrons

                                              23
attended, and only 10 of those fell on the access road during the Carrie effect. And, none

of those 10 were injured, except for Griffin. The trial court correctly determined this is

not a "high probability that an injury will occur."

        Griffin also contends Haunted Hotel was reckless because there were "areas in the

park, the grounds could be different levels, there could be cracks, things on the ground

the people can trip on" and "[s]ome areas could be dark." However, this testimony about

what "could be" is too speculative to create a triable issue of any increased risk of harm.

(See Kachadoorian v. Calwa County Water Dist. (1979) 96 Cal.App.3d 741, 749-750

[testimony about what "could be" is speculative].) Speculative possibilities are not

substantial evidence. (See Citizen Action To Serve All Students v. Thornley (1990) 222

Cal.App.3d 748, 756.)

        Moreover, the witness who testified what "could be" was not asked what "areas in

the park" he was referring to—and perhaps more to the point, Griffin conceded as an

"undisputed fact" the Carrie effect occurred "on a well-lit even surface."

        Griffin also contends the court erred in determining there is no triable issue of

recklessness because (1) the court allowed Griffin to allege punitive damages, and (2) the

factual allegations upon which the court allowed the punitive damage claim "have full

factual basis . . . ."

        Griffin incorrectly states his allegations were supported by the evidence. His

punitive damage claim primarily rested on allegations Haunted Hotel trained its

employees to chase patrons beyond the physical boundary of the event. On summary

judgment, this allegation was refuted. In short, a trial court's ruling that punitive damages

                                              24
was adequately pleaded does not require a finding on summary judgment, an evidentiary

motion, that a triable issue of punitive damages exists.

         The cases involving reckless conduct Griffin cites, where summary judgment has

been denied, are materially distinguishable from Griffin's case. For example, in

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area v. Graham, supra, 135 Cal.App.4th 1367, a ski instructor

was injured when struck by a teenaged snowboarder, while the snowboarder's attention

was directed toward his brother, with whom he was engaged in a downhill high speed

snowball fight. The court held there was a triable issue the defendant snowboarder was

reckless because "[w]hile many cold-weather activities involve the throwing of

snowballs, participation in snowboarding or skiing does not carry with it the inherent risk

of being struck by another snowboarder or skier engaged in a snowball fight." (Id. at pp.

1373-1374.)

         Similarly, in Lackner v. North (2006) 135 Cal.App.4th 1188, defendant

snowboarded at high speed into a flat area at the base of an advanced run where people

stop to rest, was not looking where he was going, and collided with a skier at a complete

stop. The force of impact was so strong, the plaintiff's husband, standing nearby, heard

the bones being crushed. The defendant's conduct in Lackner was analogous to a freeway

driver exiting the freeway without slowing down or looking for other cars, and as a result,

crashes into one that has stopped and is waiting to turn onto a connecting street. On those

facts, the court held there was a triable issue the defendant was reckless. (Id. at pp. 1194-

1195.)

                                             25
       In stark contrast here, the very purpose of the Haunted Trail is to frighten patrons.

Haunted Hotel informed patrons the event had "high impact scares." Patrons in a

Halloween haunted house are expected to be surprised, startled, and scared by the

exhibits. That is what Griffin paid money to experience. At bottom, his complaint here

is Haunted Hotel delivered on its promise to scare the wits out of him.

       Galan v. Covenant House New Orleans (La.Ct.App. 1997) 695 So.2d 1007, 1008

fully supports the result here. In Galan, after a haunted house patron walked through a

fake "exit," a chainsaw carrying actor jumped out to frighten the patrons "one last time."

Plaintiff sued alleging defendants breached their duty "by placing their last exhibit

outside of the exit . . . at a point where patrons would no longer expect to be frightened."

The Galan court rejected the argument, concluding:

          "Patrons in a Halloween haunted house are expected to be surprised,
          startled and scared by the exhibits but the operator does not have a
          duty to guard against patrons reacting in bizarre, frightened and
          unpredictable ways." (Id. at p. 1009.)

       A basic part of the scares at The Haunted Trial is the startling, frightening,

menacing and chasing of patrons by actors in ghoulish costumes, some carrying

chainsaws with the chain removed. There is an inherent risk that a patron may decide to

run and fall. Because there is no evidence that anyone associated with The Haunted Trail

intentionally injured Griffin, and because being chased in the Carrie effect scene is

neither reckless nor outside the range of ordinary activity involved in a scare attraction,

the trial court properly determined that as a matter of law, Haunted Hotel breached no

duty to Griffin.

                                             26
       Being chased within the physical confines of The Haunted Trail by a chainsaw

carrying maniac is a fundamental part and inherent risk of this amusement. Griffin

voluntarily paid money to experience it. "It is not the function of tort law to police such

conduct." (Avila, supra, 38 Cal.4th at p. 165.)

                                      DISPOSITION

       The judgment is affirmed. Haunted Hotel to recover costs on appeal.

                                                                                 NARES, J.

WE CONCUR:

BENKE, Acting P. J.

McDONALD, J.

                                             27
Filed 11/20/15

                    COURT OF APPEAL - STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                           FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                     DIVISION ONE

SCOTT GRIFFIN,
Plaintiff and Appellant,
v.
THE HAUNTED HOTEL,
Defendant and Respondent.
D066715
San Diego County No. 37-2013-00044186-CU-PO-CTL

THE COURT:

       On November 2, 2015, this Court issued an order denying respondent's October
23, 2015 request for publication.

        Thereafter, the Court received three additional requests for publication, one from a
law firm representing the California Attractions and Parks Association that represent
clients in cases arising out of the operation of amusement and entertainment venues.
Based on the persuasive reasoning set forth in these additional publication requests, the
court now concludes that the opinion meets the criteria for publication in California Rule
of Court, rule 8.1105(c).

        Therefore, the opinion is ordered published.

                                                                      BENKE, Acting P. J.

                                             1