Clover v. Snowbird Ski Resort
Utah Supreme Court
808 P.2d 1037 (1991)
Margaret Clover (plaintiff) was injured when a Snowbird (defendant) employee, skiing at speed, went airborne off a blind crest on an intermediate run — a jump skiers above the crest couldn't see was dangerous to those below — and collided with her. Clover sued Snowbird for negligent design and maintenance of its ski runs; the trial court granted summary judgment for Snowbird, holding that Utah's Inherent Risk of Skiing Statute barred the claim regardless of the resort's fault, and Clover appealed.
Whether, in Utah, a ski area operator is immune from liability under the state's Inherent Risk of Skiing Statute if it fails to exercise ordinary care to eliminate a known and unnecessary hazard that causes injury to a patron.