Newsletter Articles

The Ball is in Your Court: Goalpost Safety

April 07, 2011

Goalpost Safety

Katharine M. Nohr, JD
Nohr Sports Risk Management, LLC

If your organization uses goalposts in football, soccer, or any other sport, you should make yourself familiar with an Indiana case that is hot, well maybe, warm off the press, Bourne v. Gillman, 452 F.3d 632 (7th Cir., June 20, 2006). If you’ve read this opinion, you are probably wondering what a products liability case in which an injured fan sued the manufacturer of the goalpost has to do with you. A look at the history of the case as described by the court will reveal some startling facts that might be relevant to your organization.

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Occupiers’ Liability Part I: Invitee

April 07, 2011

Shelley Timms, B.A., LL.B., LL.M.
Timshel Services Inc.
Alcohol Risk Management
Timshel@timshelservices.com

Editors Note: In the US, this is referred to as ‘Premises Liability’.  While there may be differences from state to state, the principles are essentially the same.

Over the next three issues of the Newsletter, Occupiers’ Liability will be explored, with each part focusing on the three categories of ‘visitor’ to a property — invitee; licencee and trespasser.

Occupiers’ liability was initially developed in the common law. Over time (several hundred years), judges began to develop the duties and obligations owed by the occupier of property to those who could be expected to enter and use the property. The occupier is the person or entity in control of the property, and therefore, includes a renter and lessee as well as owner. Occupation could be for as little as one day or evening, such as renting a hall for an event or a field for a game. Property or ‘premises’ can be mean land, structures, water, ships/vessels, trailers or other portable structures and vehicles not in operation.

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Hurricane Katrina — Emergency Response – Lessons Learned

April 07, 2011

Missie McGuire
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs
Tulane University

Emergency Preparedness begins with an organized university-wide pre-storm and post-storm response to any natural disaster your campus may be susceptible to. There should be three primary objectives to an emergency plan in a collegiate environment: 1) to provide safety and security for students, faculty and staff, 2) to assist in minimizing and mitigating property damage, and 3) to provide a blueprint for the restoration and resumption of academic and business operations.

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Post-Emergency Planning — the Oft Forgot Aspect of Emergency Response

April 07, 2011

Wallace Eddy, Associate Director, Risk Management
Carrie Tupper, Assistant Director, Aquatics
University of Maryland, College Park

As we plan for emergency response, there is one area we often neglect: the post emergency experience, which includes: (1) documenting the incident and our response to it, (2) communication (including dealing with reactions of staff and managing communication activity), and (3) evaluation – learning from our experience. Part of any emergency response plan should be a follow-up protocol that addresses the above points.

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Emergency Contact List

April 07, 2011

Making Sure Key People are in the Loop

Jim Langel
Associate Director, Facility Management
University of Northern Iowa

When an emergency takes place in your facility or during a university sponsored event, you want all facets of your Emergency Action Plan to function smoothly and cover every detail to insure the best care possible for those affected. Once every detail of your Policies and Procedures Manual is implemented perfectly and the participant is in the best possible hands you have to ask, “Is there anything left to do?”

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