A recent High Court decision on the duty owed by organisers of sporting events to competitors has implications for agricultural shows, rodeos, campdrafts, pony clubs and polocrosse events across Australia.
THE FACTS
In 2011, a 19 year old experienced and capable campdrafter fell from her horse during a campdraft at Ellerston in New South Wales.
Before the fall, the ground within the ring had begun to deteriorate from use and horse traffic, four other competitors had fallen from their horses and, despite these conditions and a complaint made by another competitor, the organising committee decided to continue with the competition.
The rider became a quadriplegic and required lifelong rehabilitation.
At its core, the claim to the High Court was for compensation to fund ongoing care and rehabilitation.
The High Court awarded compensation of $6.75 million and in doing so, made new law on the duties owed to competitors in “dangerous recreational activities” by the organisers of such events.
THE NEW LAW
Organisers of sporting or community events owe a duty of care to competitors, spectators and the general public to ensure that the event does not cause competitors, spectators or volunteers unexpected harm.
It is often argued that a competitor engaging in a “dangerous recreational activity” voluntarily assumes obvious or certain risks when competing in that event.
Dangerous recreational activities include campdrafting and other equestrian sports, rodeos, livestock showing and events which involve a high degree of risk to a competitor’s personal safety. Because of the likelihood of falling from a horse or being injured by another horse in environment with other horses or livestock, some risks are assumed by the competitor and not the organisers of the event.
The High Court considered the question:
Did the deterioration of the ground which caused the fall represent an obvious risk which was assumed by the competitor and not the responsibility of the organisers to control?
The High Court found that the organisers, by not stopping the competition when they were aware of the earlier falls and could see the condition of the ground, breached their duty of care to the competitors and were negligent.
As a result of that negligence, the rider was allowed to take her run which caused her injuries and was entitled to damages as compensation for the negligence of the organisers.
THE IMPLICATIONS
The decision highlights the need for event organisers to have risk management processes in place during an event to deal with safety issues.
On the facts of this decision:
- before the event, the organisers should have designed a ground assessment policy and nominated a person to have the authority to stop or delay competition immediately once the ground deteriorated to an unsafe level;
- the prior accidents should have triggered actions by the organisers to comprehensively review the safety issues and assess whether to proceed with the competition; and
- if the competition was to proceed, safety warnings should have been given to all competitors to draw their attention to the increased risk of falling at certain points on the ground and given the opportunity to withdraw from the competition.
Agricultural show societies, equestrian event committees, rodeo organisers and other community events which involve livestock should carefully consider how they deal with safety issues to avoid liability being imposed on them, or their insurers, by an injured competitor or spectator.
Thynne + Macartney acts for many community and sporting organisations and can help put organisers in touch with consultants to address these risks.