“I guess you know your date didn’t go very well when you get sued afterward.” [Lowering the Bar; Stanislav v. Papp] Per the New York appellate court’s statement of facts:
Plaintiff was injured when she fell off a horse while on a date with defendant. She alleges that defendant was negligent in failing to properly warn her and appreciate her limited level of skill as a rider, and in failing to pay proper attention to her request that the horses proceed at a slow pace in a careful manner.
The judges, however, upheld a lower court’s dismissal of the case (citations omitted):
Plaintiff has provided no evidence or authority which supports her contention that defendant owed her a duty to insure that the horseback riding experience was safe. As a person with experience riding horses, plaintiff was aware that the risks of falling from a horse or a horse acting in an unintended manner are inherent in the sport. Defendant’s conduct was not so unique or reckless as to create an additional unanticipated risk for plaintiff.
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The obvious next step in the Trial Lawyer Industry’s ultra-lucrative social parasitism is to begin extorting, oops I meant suing, Match.com and e-Harmony for bad dates.
Dear Miss Manners:
Now that the suit is decided, should I ask her out again?
I suppose that it is possible that it was actually the young lady’s insurance company that insisted on suing, in which case she might actually be receptive to another date.
Last time I went horseback riding, the attendant at the stable had me and my friends sign liability waivers. I would imagine this place does the same. So I wonder how this woman can claim ignorance of the potential risks.