Connecticut Court: Ski Area Not Liable for Skier’s Injuries, Paralysis

The state Appellate Court says a ski area in New Hartford isn’t liable for an accident in 2006 that paralyzed a 15-year-old boy.

The Republican-American of Waterbury reports that the Appellate Court this week upheld a jury verdict in favor of Ski Sundown Inc. in a lawsuit brought by James Malaguit.

Malaguit suffered spinal injuries after skiing off a jump at the ski area. He is now a quadriplegic.

Malaguit accused the ski area in his lawsuit of negligently building and maintaining a snow jump. But the jury sided with the ski area’s arguments that Malaguit assumed the risk for any injury and his injuries were caused by his own negligence. Malaguit argued in his appeal that a Litchfield Superior Court judge gave the jury flawed instructions.