While snowboarding down a slope at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area

(Mammoth), 17-year-old David Graham was engaged in a snowball fight with his 14-year-old brother. As he was “preparing to throw a snowball” at his Chapter 9 Torts 207 brother, David slammed into Liam Madigan, who was working as a ski school instructor for Mammoth, and injured him. Madigan sued Graham for damages for reckless and dangerous behavior. The defense contended that the claim was barred under the doctrine of assumption of the risk, applicable in the state, arising from the risk inherent in the sport that allows for vigorous participation and frees a participant from a legal duty to act with due care. Decide.

[Mammoth Mountain Ski Area v Graham, 38 Cal Rptr 3d 422 (Cal App)]

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