THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Senate Judiciary OK’s child waivers
Apr 16, 2009
The Senate Judiciary Committee passed a measure (SB 886) Wednesday that would allow parents to sign pre-event waivers.
However, that was after lawmakers inserted a provision that provided that parents could only sign a waiver that freed a company from blame in an inherently risky situation but not in a negligence case.
The provision was sought by trial lawyers. The legislation was spurred by a decision by the Florida Supreme Court, which ruled that parents do not have the right to sign away their child’s ability to sue a commercial entity in the event of injury or death after a 14-year-old died at Thunder Cross Motor Track Sports in Okeechobee County.
Businesses have pushed for the original version of the legislation, warning that injuries could spawn multiple lawsuits, putting companies in jeopardy.