A skier who sued Vail Resorts after suffering a broken femur while trying to unload from the Discovery lift, a beginner chair in Keystone, has had their day in court. Unfortunately for the skier, The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the waiver on the back of your lift ticket and your ski lesson waiver is all a ski company needs to protect them from lawsuits.

On Monday, Jan. 8,  the court ruled, “the waiver that Dr. Brigance signed before participating in her ski lesson, as well as the waiver contained on the back of her lift ticket, are enforceable and bar claims against Vail Summit Resorts Inc.”

By ruling that skiing is voluntary, not a necessity, the federal appeals court has set a precedent that should prevent future lawsuits from being brought agains ski areas.

“Vail Resorts is in agreement with the ruling earlier this week by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals and believes this was a thoughtful and well-reasoned decision, consistent with well-settled Colorado law,” Vail Resorts said in a statement. “The company continues to place the highest value on the safety of its guests and, as such, complies with all industry safety standards. As with many recreational activities, there are risks involved with skiing and snowboarding.”

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