Supreme Court of California

For purposes of the doctrine of assumption of risk in a negligence action, a sports instructor may breach a duty of care to a student or athlete only if the instructor intentionally injures the student or engages in reckless conduct that it is totally outside the range of the ordinary activity involved in teaching or coaching the sport.

Appellate Information

• Decided 08/28/2003
• Published 08/28/2003

Judges

• GEORGE, C.J.

Court

• Supreme Court of California

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
•  Offices of Patrick R. McMahon, Patrick R. McMahon, San Jose, Seema A. Savur, Lydia J. Carlsgaard;  Rhoads Appellate Group and Steven R. Rhoads, Greenbrae, for Plaintiff and Appellant.,  Robinson, Calcagnie & Robinson and Sharon J. Arkin, Newport Beach, for California Consumer Attorneys of California as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Plaintiff and Appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Hoge, Fenton, Jones & Appel, Needham, Davis, Kirwan & Young, Mark E. Davis, Marc J. Cardinal and Kirsten M. Fish, for Defendants and Respondents., Hancock Rothert & Bunshoft, John E. Fagan, Tahoe City, Paul J. Killion, San Francisco, Joseph P. Collins, Los Angeles, and Jill Penwarden, Tahoe City, for California Ski Industry Association as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Defendants and Respondents., Horvitz & Levy, Julie L. Woods, Encino, and Robert H. Wright for The American Youth Soccer Organization, Little League Baseball, Incorporated, California State University, The University of California and Golden Eagle Insurance Corporation as Amici Curiae on behalf of Defendants and Respondents., Gene D. Vorobyov for Cities of San Luis Obispo, San Pablo, Santa Paula and Tracy as Amici Curiae on behalf of Defendant and Respondent East Side Union High School District.