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An Open Letter
to the Friends and Players of Action Sports |
On May 21, 2004 a 12 year old boy was
awarded 6.6 million dollars in a paintball lawsuit by
Cook County Judge Edward Burr. The boy was accidentally
shot in the eye while in the staging area. He is now blind
in his right eye. This occurred at County Club Paintball
in Glenwood, IL (near Chicago). The parents of the boy
were represented by Kevin Golden of Motherway
& Napleton, LLP.
The field had a spotless safety record
and was operating within all the insurance parameters.
The parents had signed a waiver. The field owner had done
everything correctly. All paintball insurance carriers
in the industry carry a liability maximum of 1 million
dollars. This left the field owner owing 5.6 million dollars
to the player. He lost his business, home, vehicles and
retirement account, and will continue to pay for the rest
of his life.
The liability that field owners are now
exposed to far out performs any profit that can be generated.
In simple terms, it's no longer worth the risk.
For 15 years, Action Sports has provided
safe, affordable games for players. We have never had
a serious injury or claim in that time. But this case
clearly shows the risk. As a husband and father, I cannot
expose my family to this risk, however small the odds
may be.
Effective immediately, Paintball games
will be discontinued at the Action Sports Paintball field.
In order to maintain liability protection, I must also
prosecute any persons trespassing to play paintball on
the property.
I regret that I must pursue this course
of action, but the type of world we live in leaves me
no choice.
Ron Williams
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