Under the doctrine, a voluntary participant in a sporting or recreational activity consents to those commonly appreciated risks that are inherent in and arise out of the nature of the sport generally and flow from the participation. Inherent risks in a sporting activity are those which are known, apparent, natural, or reasonably foreseeable consequences of participation, including risks associated with the construction of the playing surface and any open and obvious condition on it. It is not necessary to the application of assumption of risk that the injured plaintiff have foreseen the exact manner in which the injury occurred, so long as the plaintiff is aware of the potential for injury of the mechanism from which the injury results. When a plaintiff assumes the risk of participating in a sporting event, the defendant is relieved of legal duty to the plaintiff; and being under no duty, the defendant cannot be charged with negligence.
Goulet v. Pier 2 Roller Ring at Brooklyn Bridge Park, NY Slip Op 04216 (2d Dep't July 7 2021)
Tomorrow's issue: Real property and the duty of care.
