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January 12, 2011

Injured Sugarloaf skiers retain law firm

By The Mainebiz News Staff

Five of the eight skiers hurt last month in a chair lift derailment at Sugarloaf have retained a Lewiston law firm.

Benjamin Gideon, an attorney with Berman & Simmons, told the Portland Press Herald that the clients have not yet decided whether to file a claim against the Carrabassett Valley ski resort, and did not provide details on the size of a potential claim. The skiers who retained the law firm are Delaware state Sen. Michael Katz and his two daughters, and Rick Tonge of Belgrade and his son, Andy.

Maine laws on the books since the 1970s limit ski resorts' liabilities and say skiers accept the inherent risks of the activity, but Jim Chalet, a Colorado expert on ski law, told the paper that some cases of negligence could allow for a lawsuit. Gideon argued safe operation of the chair lift falls outside the inherent risk statute. A Sugarloaf spokesman said the mountain is addressing injured skiers' concerns and has legal counsel to handle court claims.

The Dec. 28 accident is still under investigation, and the chair lift remains closed, according to the paper.

Go to the article from the Portland Press Herald >>

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