Finken v. USA Cycling

District Court, D. Utah·Decided June 3, 2020·No. 1:17-cv-00079·Unknown

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF UTAH

GERALD FINKEN, MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER Plaintiff,

v. Civil No. 1:17-cv-79

USA CYCLING, INC.; BREAKAWAY Judge Clark Waddoups PROMOTIONS, LLC; OGDEN/WEBER CONVENTION VISITORS BUREAU, and Magistrate Judge Paul M. Warner DOES 1–10,

Defendants.

INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff Gerald Finken entered the 2014 USA Cycling Masters Road Championship race. On August 25, 2014, Finken did a pre-ride of the course using the map published for the race. As he came around a turn on the route, he saw a concrete barrier blocking the road. Finken attempted to swerve around it, but crashed and suffered serious neck and back injuries. He has filed suit against USA Cycling, Inc. and Breakaway Promotions, LLC for negligently failing to warn riders about the barricade. Defendants have moved for summary judgment on the ground that Finken signed a waiver of liability. For the reasons stated below, the court denies the motions for summary judgment. FACTUAL BACKGROUND The 2014 USA Cycling Masters Road Championship race (“2014 Championship”) was held in Weber County, Utah on September 3–7, 2014. “USA Cycling is the national governing body for the sport of cycling in the United States of America and was responsible for conducting the 2014 Championships.” Amended Complaint, ¶ 11 (ECF No. 20); USA Cycling Answer, ¶ 11 (ECF No. 30). It entered into an Independent Contractor Agreement with Breakaway Promotions, LLC (“Breakaway”), where Breakaway agreed to perform multiple duties, including implementing the “course design and layout for each race course as well as start and finish areas.” Breakaway Agmt., ¶ 7 (ECF No. 56-7). Breakaway also agreed to be responsible for “[a]ll organization and course safety evaluations for each race venue.” Id. Breakaway further

agreed to supply information “for the race Technical Guide” and contracted that such information would be “precise and accurate[].” Id. USA Cycling retained the responsibility, however, to publish the Technical Guide “in a reproducible format that [could] be printed or sent digitally.” Id. The Technical Guide included maps and course route information.1 USA Cycling Depo., 33:19–35:1 (ECF No. 38-5) (given by Charles R. Hodge). Before publication, USA Cycling typically reviewed maps to ensure compliance with its rules. Leif Depo., 9:24–10:10 (ECF No. 45-1). Once a map “was approved, [it] would post it online and make it part of the event materials.” Id. 10:10–14. “One of the purposes of posting” the map online was so “participants or prospective participants [could] see . . . where the course

[was to be] located.” Id. at 10:15–20. Chad Sperry, the owner of Breakaway, asserts Breakaway

1 It is unclear when the Technical Guide was released to the participants. The relevant map was posted earlier than the Technical Guide, as a separate document, and then included later in the Technical Guide. prepared “a preliminary map” for USA Cycling to review, and then “USA Cycling created their own map for the technical guide and to post online of this particular race course.” Sperry Depo., 30:4–17 (ECF No. 56-8). USA Cycling disputes it prepared the map. Id. at 30:18–23; Leif Depo., 11:1–5 (ECF No. 45-1). Part of the route for the race went along State Road 226, which is known as the Old Snowbasin Road. Prior to “submit[ing] the course layout to USA Cycling for the event,” Breakaway knew a portion of the road was closed near the Ard Nord Trailhead. Sperry Depo., 20:10–14, 23:1–3 (ECF No. 56-8). A concrete barricade had been placed across the road due to the road’s condition beyond the barricade. Id. at 21:2–6, 22:16–20. The plan was to have the barricade removed after the road was repaired for the race. Id. at 26:21–23. No warnings about

the road closure were noted when the course map was posted for participants to view. Sperry did a site visit in early August 2014, and saw the concrete barriers were still in place at that time. Id. at 22:9–15, 23:8–11. Additionally, Rachel Leif, USA Cycling’s National Events Manager, also learned prior to the race that a portion of the road was closed. Leif Depo., 12:22–24 (ECF No. 45-1). “[A] concerned masters rider” sent an email to USA Cycling, which contained photographs of the route, including a picture of the concrete “barriers across the road and a ‘Road Closed’ sign.” Id. at 14:1–19, 15:3–5. The Vice President of National Events, Micah Rice, forwarded the email to Sperry on August 5, 2014, and copied Leif on it. Id. at 14:18–22, 39:24–40:2. “[B]y August 5th or 6th, 2014, [Leif] understood the road was closed.”

Id. at 15:10–13. Although she “was the point person,” and knew she was viewing pictures of the racecourse, she did not take action to notify participants of the road closure at that time. See id. at 13:11–17, 15:6–9, 16:13–22. Her conversations with participants pertained only to potholes that needed to be fixed in the road. Id. at 17:14–18. This is so even though Leif knew that “race participants will often pre-ride a course to prepare.” Id. at 30:3–10. Similarly, Sperry took no action to notify participants about the closure. Sperry Depo., at 40:10–25 (ECF No. 56-8). On August 25, 2014, Finken did a pre-ride of the course using the map provided by USA Cycling. Finken Depo., 60:5–7, 63:6–16 (ECF No. 38-3). Finken alleges he rode the route cautiously during his pre-ride due to his lack of knowledge about the course and wet road conditions. Id. at 68:8–25. Nevertheless, as he came around a turn and saw the concrete barriers across the road, he “locked up the brakes” but was not able to stop. Id. at 78:18–79:12. He attempted to swerve onto a worn path beside the barrier, but his handlebars and left hand struck the barrier. Id. at 77:10–16, 80:7–12, 82:24–83:21. Finken became airborne and landed on his

right side. Id. at 82:4–5, 83:25–84:2. He was hospitalized for two days for serious neck and back injuries. Id. at 107:16–108:25. After the accident, USA Cycling modified the Technical Guide to warn participants doing a pre-ride that a portion of the route was closed and would remain closed until the day before the event. Leif Depo., 24:23–25:3, 26:3–7, 27:9–21. Finken contends Breakaway and USA Cycling were negligent in not giving that warning sooner. Both defendants contend, however, they cannot be liable for negligence because Finken signed a pre-injury waiver entitled, “Acknowledgment of Risk, Release of Liability, Indemnification Agreement and Covenant not to Sue” (the “Waiver”).

Finken registered for the race on or about July 27, 2014. Order Summary, at 4 (ECF No. 45-1). Part of that registration required Finken to sign the Waiver. Finken does not recall seeing or signing the Waiver, but for purposes of these summary judgment motions, it is undisputed that he signed it. The Waiver is broad. It notes “that cycling is an inherently dangerous sport” and includes dangers such as “collision with pedestrians, vehicles, other riders, and fixed or moving objects.” Waiver, 2 (ECF No. 56-6) (emphasis omitted). It further notes “the possibility of serious physical and/or mental trauma or injury, or death associated with the event.” Id. Finken agreed to “waive, release, discharge, hold harmless, and promise to indemnify and not to sue” USA Cycling and specified others for “any and all rights and claims including claims arising from [their] own negligence.” Id. (emphasis omitted). Finken also agreed to release “all damages which may be sustained by [him] directly or indirectly in connection[] with, or arising out of, [his] participation in or association with the event, or travel to or return from the event.” Id.

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