Can I kill this kid?

**laseranimal** · 10-23-2003, 07:41 PM

10/13--Canada.com is reporting that British Columbia's Richmond School District has canceled all student skiing and snowboarding trips scheduled for this season. The move comes while the district appeals a $2.9-million damage award to a former student injured during a school snowboarding trip. Last March a B.C. Supreme Court jury found Whistler-Blackcomb 70% at fault and the Richmond school district 15% at fault for the January 2000 accident that left the student, Travis Murao, a quadriplegic. The ski area settled out of court for an undisclosed sum while the school district's liability, including court costs, amounts to nearly $500,000. Commenting on the decision to cancel the student ski trips, school board chairwoman Annie McKitrick said "We're the board that was put on trial. We just want to safeguard ourselves at this point." Other school districts in B.C. are said to be tightening up their consent forms while watching the Richmond district's appeal very closely. One nearby school board spokesperson explained to Canada.com last week, "We've told our schools to go ahead and book the events they normally would, but not to commit themselves financially for the moment." Reports are that the Richmond School District's appeal won't be heard for several months, meaning that the issue will not likely be resolved before the end of this ski season. At trial Murao and his lawyer admitted that the then 17 year old student attempted to hit a 4.5-meter jump that was beyond his skill level and landed on his head. They successfully claimed the district and 4 teachers provided inadequate supervision. After the jury handed down its judgment, which also included a finding that Murao himself was 15% at fault, Murao's attorney, Joe Murphy, told reporters, "It's good news in the sense that the school district was found at fault for Travis's accident, the bad news is that the fault of the teachers and the school was only 15% of the total damages."

**dipstik** · 10-23-2003, 07:53 PM

That bastard, talk about a fucking JONG, shit powmags eat ur hearts out.
Four years ago I hit a jump that didnt have a clear landing and I wiped out and hurt my back pretty bad. You know whose fault it was? MINE, 100% my stupid dumbass fault, and nobody elses. What a fuckhead, not just the kid, the courts too for putting the blame on Whistler.

**Mcwop** · 10-23-2003, 08:19 PM

Not much sign of any legal reform in the U.S. or other countries. Today the Senate scuttled class action reform.

My class action winnings to date $1.14. I remember getting a check for an overpayment of health insurance class action settlement for 14 cents (less than the friggin stamp). My premiums that year went up $28 a month. Trial lawyers in the case earned millions.

If mountains keep losing lawsuits those jumps will eventually get removed.

**Samwich** · 10-23-2003, 08:41 PM

Who can help me finish this quote (bonus points if you can tell me who said it): "People who sue ski areas ______ __ ____."

**cj001f** · 10-23-2003, 08:44 PM

Originally posted by Samwich
Who can help me finish this quote (bonus points if you can tell me who said it): "People who sue ski areas ______ __ ____."

Should be shot. Scot Schmidt.

**swiss powda** · 10-23-2003, 08:45 PM

Originally posted by Samwich
"People who sue ski areas ______ __ ____."

deserve to die - Scot Schmidt, or something to that effect

edit, too slow and too wrong, oh well. haha, and I'm stupid

**Tavi** · 10-23-2003, 09:02 PM

Well, it must be someone’s fault. It couldn't be the fault of our precious angel. Someone must pay!

Man, you Kanucks are getting worse than us with all this litigation shit. I never thought I'd see the day.

**Samwich** · 10-23-2003, 09:04 PM

Originally posted by cj001f
Should be shot. Scot Schmidt.

That was quick! You get two points for a correct answer, another two bonus points for the bonus question, and another bonus point for responding so soon. That's five points! You're winning!

Seriously though... I feel for the kid, because I understand that peer pressure can be a bitch, and no matter how much of a little dumbass someone is, I don't wish quadriplegia on anyone... but I don't understand why he can't take responsibilities for his actions.

I wonder how they got Whistler in on this? Isn't it a liability release when you purchase a ticket?

**phUnk** · 10-23-2003, 10:17 PM

"People shooting ski areas should be sued."

Name that quote, fuckers.

**The AD** · 10-23-2003, 10:39 PM

Originally posted by phUnk
"People shooting ski areas should be sued."

Name that quote, fuckers.

I believe that was phUnk, 10/23/03.

**Arty50** · 10-23-2003, 10:51 PM

Originally posted by laseranimal
Can I kill this kid?

It shouldn't be too difficult. He's already done 90% of the work for you.

Sorry, I had to toss in the percentage since that's really all his lawyer cares about.

**ak_powder_monkey** · 10-23-2003, 10:52 PM

WTF are those sighns that say "Ride at your own risk" there for a reason or what? there needs to be some freaking lawsuit protection laws for ski resorts so retarted people stop deserving to be shot

**lph** · 10-23-2003, 11:27 PM

This was posted on powder, but it probably no longer exists cause it was more than 90 days ago, but, as I remember, the kid went on to say that he hoped to be a lawyer someday.

I think he went into a well marked terrain park but claims he didn't know he shouldn't try to hit jumps as a beginner.

**alto** · 10-24-2003, 01:55 AM

Do you really think it was the 17 year old child who decided to file the lawsuit? Is it really necessary to put him down? He has already been punished, so leave him out of it. What if he was sitting alone in his room surfing the internet and he came across this board? Instead of finding the expected stoke, all he found was people who don't even know him mocking his sad, crippled state. Bravo, shitheads.

http://www.utah.edu/gradschool/why_u...ive/powder.jpg

**gincognito** · 10-24-2003, 08:18 AM

Originally posted by phUnk
"People shooting ski areas should be sued."

Name that quote, fuckers.

[pause]

"well they should."

- Bruce Benedict. Letting the party out of his head.

Sick and ashamed and happy (and Samwich's quote is slightly off, but I'm not feeling picky),
d.

edit: fucker

**Ferniefreeheels** · 10-24-2003, 08:19 AM

I don't blame the school district for cancelling...they probably don't have a choice, probabably it won't just be the ski and snowboard program that will be cut, I"m sure there will be other programs cut as well as a result. School districts throughout BC have all been hit hard with budget cuts, mostly due to declining enrolment.

I wouldn't blame the kid or his parents for that matter. When something that tramatic happens, human emotion kicks in and looks for somewhere or someone to blame...it's only human nature...unfortunately the last person they look to blame are themselves.

I would blame our legal system for ever upholding such a ruling.
You walk into some scumbag lawers office with a story like this and they immediatly begin to file their teeth

I started skiing in school ski programs too. I saw many kids break legs , arms etc. Nobody ever thought about sueing over it, but I guess times have changed...we're sounding more like Americans all the time.

**PlayHarder** · 10-24-2003, 08:36 AM

Feel sorry for the kid, could have happened to anyone here.

Shoot the fucking lawyers.

**Steven S. Dallas** · 10-24-2003, 08:49 AM

Why don't you apportion a bit of blame to the jury who found for the kid? General rule: juries hate corporations.

**gincognito** · 10-24-2003, 08:56 AM

Or his "friends" who were pressuring him into taking the jump?

Sick and ashamed and happy (and there's plenty of blame to go around!),
d.

**Steven S. Dallas** · 10-24-2003, 08:59 AM

Blame Canada!

With all their beady little eyes,
their flapping heads so full of lies
Blame Canada!

Blame Canada!
Blame Canada!

Seems like everything's gone wrong
Ever since Canada came along!

**milkman** · 10-24-2003, 09:55 AM

I remember when that happened last year. That was the first case of it's kind up here where the shithead skier won. The US legal system is having a bad influence up here...

**778skier** · 10-24-2003, 10:30 AM

I've been following this since it first came out in the papers last year and i cant believe it actually went through.

Everytime i think about it i just get mad, i mean i think we all can atleast begin to imagine how horrible it would be to lose the function of our legs but i think he's gone way too far. The level of disapointment he showed after hearing that he was found somewhat at fault, his ignorance, was just despicable.

I mean here he was a 17 year old kid, old enough to drive a 4000lb machine capable of reaching speeds of causing serious destruction, and just a year short of being able to vote in our province. And here he is saying he needs to be told what NOT to do at every turn in his life and now the court has backed this up. I mean i think this has far greater meaning than the thousands of kids that now will not be able to experience the mountains and get inspired as so many of us have. It says to me that even a teenager has no brain whatsoever. I mean when did we become a people that has to coddle our children until they're old enough to move out on their own? And hell what are they going to do when they reach that age? I would hate to be a kid any sort of field trip after this, teachers are going to have to be constantly saying, dont walk off that cliff, dont jump out that window, dont walk on that broken glass, dont lie in the middle of the street, dont stick your hand in the deep fryer etc. etc. And just imagine what that generation is going to grow up to become? In 10 years the majority of people in the supposed institutes of higher learning are going to be sniveling idiots that cant make a decision on their own, and to think these are the people driving on our roads, and serving our food, working in our industries. At what point should we expect people to be able to not think "hey nobody told me this might be dangerous so i guess i can do it". I mean shit, no amount of peer pressure could've gotten me to take a 4.5m jump when i was a newbie on skis. It doesnt take a sign, a movie, or even a patroller standing at each jump monitoring them to tell me that is f'n dangerous. The world is a lesser place because of Travis Murao and i hope he reads this.

I think he should sue his parents, if anyone, for providing him with the retarded gene and letting him grow up to become who he has. I'd like to get his email address and have letters from skiers around the world sent to him telling him what he's done.

On the good side, i'll bet there's now money to be made in the teenager sized bubble idustry.

**alto** · 10-24-2003, 10:52 AM

Originally posted by 778skier
And just imagine what that generation is going to grow up to become? In 10 years the majority of people in the supposed institutes of higher learning are going to be sniveling idiots that cant make a decision on their own, and to think these are the people driving on our roads, and serving our food, working in our industries.

Imagine what the generation that came before your's thinks of you.

KQ · 10-24-2003, 10:59 AM

I'm not going to comment on the case in question and I do have a problem with outrageous recoveries but I do want to mention something............

Often times these cases are brought about to help fund the on going medical care of the injured individual. It’s not like the quad is going to be having a great time with all the money they recover. Their life still sucks but at least they can pay their medical expenses.

Also - remember it's juries that are awarding these huge sums - Mr. & Mrs. Joe Average citizen is the person who is deciding to make the ski areas pay - the lawyers are just asking (at the request of their client) for payment. The jury has the power to stop it.

That said - there does need to be reform in our courts and ppl need to step up to the plate and accept personal responsibility.

**crstlextrm** · 10-24-2003, 11:22 AM

i have a real problem with people sueing schools without a reeeeallly good reason, thanks to his suffering and stupidity, other kids will also suffer. schools barely have enough money as it is, my highschool last year was on the verge of cutting almost all its cool elective classes like aviation and auto mechanics, and there was talk of making people pay to play sports, meaning alot of kids would prolly just not play and end up dealing crack or some shit. it would really suck to be crippled but you gotta know every action has a consequence, and if you are a beginner hitting big jumps in the terrain park, odds are its gonna be a shitty consequence. Every time i do something dangerous like going inverted or skiing in the BC i think of all the possible shit that could happen, and believe me, on more than one occasion my friends thought i had broken my neck, and if i had i prolly woulda killed myself before i sued anyone, i seriously would rather be dead than be a millionare that could never walk again.

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