Liability, am I bei...
 

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[Closed] Liability, am I being unreasonable?

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My kids (5 & 7) are joining an after school club that does group exercise/fitness/Zumba type stuff. They are really fit and healthy and totally into this sort of thing, especially if their friends are there.

I was just looking at the consent form which is all the usual stuff like allergies, contact details etc. it also includes a section on liability basically saying they accept no liability for any injury, however it is caused, even if it as a result of an error or omission by their instructors. It is not a risky activity so I am pragmatic about the risk, but is it reasonable for organisers of an activity to absolve themselves of all liability? They should have insurance.

Ai making too big a deal out of this?


 
Posted : 15/04/2013 10:11 pm
 grum
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Those disclaimers are pretty much meaningless from a legal perspective IIRC.


 
Posted : 15/04/2013 10:13 pm
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[quote=grum ]Those disclaimers are pretty much meaningless from a legal perspective IIRC.
+1 Sign what you want but they are still responsible.


 
Posted : 15/04/2013 10:13 pm
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Not so much worried about whether or not I can sue them, just seems odd they they would even state that.


 
Posted : 15/04/2013 10:14 pm
 hels
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You can't sign yourself out of your legal rights. If they have been negligent, they are still responsible.


 
Posted : 15/04/2013 10:14 pm
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They can put what they want on the form - doesn't mean that it actually holds any legal force whatsoever.

Came across some similar wording before my kid took part in supervised indoor surfing at Xscape in Castleford. Fine, it carries an element of risk, but it doesn't exactly inspire confidence in any set-up that thinks that catch-all rejection of liability is appropriate.


 
Posted : 15/04/2013 10:16 pm
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I don't think they can have a liability waiver,can they?


 
Posted : 15/04/2013 10:16 pm
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Okey dokey, that is the form signed an another cheque written.

I think I was a actually just looking for a reason not to spend more money on another kid activity. Add that to rugby, ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics and swimming and it costs a fortune.


 
Posted : 15/04/2013 10:17 pm
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Came across some similar wording before my kid took part in supervised indoor surfing at Xscape in Castleford. Fine, it carries an element of risk, but it doesn't exactly inspire confidence in any set-up that thinks that catch-all rejection of liability is appropriate]

Exactly.


 
Posted : 15/04/2013 10:18 pm
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Zumba is the devil's work. It's not too late.


 
Posted : 15/04/2013 10:19 pm
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Exact wording is

[i]by my signature hereto, I undertake not to hold the proprietor of ****** liable for any injury, loss or damage which I or my child might sustain whilst participating in the class arising irrespective of whether such loss, injury or damage can be attributed to any act or omission of an instructor of ***[/i]


 
Posted : 15/04/2013 10:21 pm
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Zumba is the devil's work. It's not too late.

I know a girl who broke her back doing Zumba. Seriously.


 
Posted : 15/04/2013 10:24 pm
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Thanks Ben, just what I needed to hear.....


 
Posted : 15/04/2013 10:25 pm
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I suspect she was doing it wrong.


 
Posted : 15/04/2013 10:29 pm
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as said above meaningless in law but the wording is a bit OTP - how abvout asking them for a copy of their risk assessment for the activity?


 
Posted : 15/04/2013 10:31 pm
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You can't disclaim negligence


 
Posted : 15/04/2013 10:31 pm
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Sorry 😉

Actually, she was a gymnast at a very high level, and a theory was that she pulled a muscle doing the Zumba, and then when she was doing the gymnastics training something popped and cracked a vertebrae. After several operations she's pretty much back to normal.


 
Posted : 15/04/2013 10:31 pm
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They can't exclude duty of care, or liability to negligence in this manner.

The point i'd be more concerned about is that they think its a reasonable approach to try to exclude this, and/or are ignorant of their duties.

Insurance is another matter, they should have it. Its more how its structured, what type of org. they are, affiliated with a sport NGB etc.

You may want to point out *gently* that wording/approach is as useful as a chocolate fireguard.


 
Posted : 15/04/2013 10:36 pm

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