• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / News / Sledding bill sails through initial statehouse test

Sledding bill sails through initial statehouse test

January 31, 2013 By O. Kay Henderson

A bill that would shield Iowa cities from lawsuits over some sledding accidents on city property has cleared an initial hurdle at the statehouse. Jessica Harder, a lobbyist for the Iowa League of Cities, said the immunity from lawsuits would only apply to accidents that happen on hills that are designated as sledding areas by a city.

“Obviously, when you see weather like this, I think everyone wants to have a sledding hill in their community if they would like to,” Harder said, “and so we’re just trying to encourage that.”

Scott Sundstrom is a lobbyist for the Iowa Defense Council, a lawyers’ group that supports the bill.

“Sledding is inherently somewhat dangerous. That’s part of what is fun about it. It’s a thrill, like skiing, other types of things,” Sundstrom said. “…You shouldn’t be able to file for a lawsuit to claim that it was somebody else’s fault for a risk that you knew about when you began the activity.”

Brad Lint is executive director of The Iowa Association for Justice, a lawyers’ group that opposes the bill.

“This is really about protecting and ensuring the safety for our kids,” Lint said. “After all, they’re the primary users of sledding slopes and we want to make sure….that municipalities are doing everything they can to make these safe and to protect our children from harm.”

Jim Carney, a lobbyist for the Iowa Bar Association — another lawyers’ group, suggested liability lawsuits aren’t a bit issue in Iowa.

“We believe that when there are claims filed, whether it be in a sledding situation or any other, that Iowa juries are very suspect of such claims,” Carney said. “They require people to prove their case and that juries are very responsible here in Iowa.”

Last year a bill that would have given blanket immunity to cities for sledding accidents on any city-owned property failed on a tie vote in the House Judiciary Committee. This year’s more limited bill, extending liability protection only for hills designed by a city as a sledding area, cleared a three-member subcommittee early this morning.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News, Politics / Govt, Recreation / Entertainment

Featured Stories

Grundy Center man sentenced to life for killing State Trooper

Jodi Husientruit remembered 27 years after she disappeared

Iowa Supreme Court rules in Mahaska-Marion County regional airport dispute

Pheasant harvest and hunter numbers both up this year

Iowa Supreme Court overturns ruling creating constitutional abortion right

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Radio Iowa/Baseball Coaches Association High School Poll 6/27/22

AJ Green signs with Milwaukee

Iowa to host Georgia Tech in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Iowa State adds a defensive back

Radio Iowa/Baseball Coaches Association High School Poll 6/20/22

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2022 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC