Guilty.
The media in this town is often fixated on issues that it perceives
to be important and sure, the new Snyder administration is fun to
figure out and the new budget certainly has implications for everyone
who lives and breaths in this state, but sometimes stuff happens here
that directly impacts your everyday life.
For example, do you have a kid or know of a kid who plays sports?
And have you ever signed one of those parental waiver agreements not to
sue if the kid gets hurt?
If so, listen up.
The House Judiciary Committee recently passed a bill that fills-in
a legal loophole. It allows one to sue a non-profit organization that
may have contributed to a child's sports injury regardless of the
waiver.
Hard to believe, legislators are actually doing something that
makes sense.
If you kid gets hurt sliding into second base, and eventually he or
she will be doing that hopefully sooner than later, and breaks a leg,
parents have no recourse.
If you'll pardon the pun, that's the breaks of playing sports.
But what if the sponsoring organization allows a coach to keep your
kids on the ball field in 100 degree temperatures and some budding Al
Kaline ends up in the hospital?
This measure allows you to call in the lawyers and sue even though
you signed the paper.
Parents did not have the right under previous laws.
"If there is any level of negligence," parents can fight back Rep.
John Walsh (R-Livonia) proudly announces. "The waiver only protects
the organization against those injuries that are inherent to the
activity."
It's not a done deal, but looks like it will be soon just in time
for the first "Play ball."