O'Connor V. U.S. Fencing Ass'n

• Decision Date: 05 May 2003
• Docket Number: No. 02-CV-5540(ERK).,02-CV-5540(ERK).
• Parties: Erin O'CONNOR, Plaintiff, v. THE UNITED STATES FENCING ASSOCIATION, Defendant.
• Court: U.S. District Court — Eastern District of New York

260 F.Supp.2d 545

Erin O'CONNOR, Plaintiff, v. THE UNITED STATES FENCING ASSOCIATION, Defendant.

No. 02-CV-5540(ERK).

United States District Court, E.D. New York.

May 5, 2003.

Gary Port, Cedarhurst, NY, for Plaintiff.

MEMORANDUM & ORDER

KORMAN, Chief Judge

Plaintiff, Erinn O'connor, filed suitagainst the United Sstates Fencing Association ("USFA"), alleging that she was severely injured while competing in a USFAsponsored event as a result of a negligently prepared competition surface. USFA has moved to dismiss the complaint because it alleges an injury date on which Ms. O'Connor did not participate in any USFA event. In the alternative, USFA asks for summary judgment on the basis of two waivers signed by Ms. O'Connor and her mother, which expressly release USFA from all liability for any injuries incurred during USFA sponsored events.

BACKGROUND

Defendant, United States Fencing Association ("USFA"), is a Colorado corporation that nationally promotes the sport of fencing. USFA maintains affiliates throughout the country, including New York, and periodically sponsors fencing tournaments in various locations. The following information is accumulated from the USFA's official website (U.S. Fencing Online (visited Apr. 10, 2003), ).

The Amateur Sports Act of 1978 specifically named the United States Olympic Committee ("USOC") as the coordinating body for amateur athletic activity in the U.S. directly relating to international Olympic athletic competition. The Act also included provisions for recognizing National Governing Bodies ("NGBs") for the sports on the programs of the Olympic and Pan American Games. The United States Fencing Association ("USFA") is the recognized NGB for the sport of fencing in the United States. The USFA was founded in 1891 as the Amateur Fencers League of America ("AFLA") by a group of New York fencers seeking independence from the Amateur Athletic Union. The AFLA changed its name to the United States Fencing Association in 1981. The USFA is affiliated with the Feederation Internationale d'Escrime ("FIE"), the international federation for fencing founded in Paris in 1913. In compliance with the Amateur Sports Act, the USFA was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in Pennsylvania in 1964 and in Colorado in 1993, and opened its national office at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo, in August of 1982. The mission of the USFA is to develop fencers to achieve international success and to administer and promote the sport in the United States.

In keeping with its mission, the USFA sends teams to the World Championships, the World Under-20 Championships, the World Under-17 Championships, the Pan American Senior Championships and the Pan American Junior Championships. In addition, the USFA develops programs domestically to assist its top athletes towards achieving international results. These programs range from grassroots to coaching education and the sponsoring of regional tournaments throughout the country. The USFA also conducts the National Championships each year. This event attracts more than 900 fencers annually. The Nationals began in 1892 and were held in New York City until 1939, when they were held in San Francisco and began moving to other cities. Today, they are held in locations across the U.S. The USFA also has National Training Centers for each of the five Olympic fencing events, one of which is located in Rochester, New York. As alleged in the complaint, the USFA also maintains affiliate fencing clubs in New York, and advertises and promotes its activities in New York, including soliciting membership from New York domiciliaries like Ms. O'Connor.

Plaintiff, Erin O'Connor, is a New York resident and amateur fencer. Ms. O'Connor applied for membership in USFA in July of 2000, seeking membership for the 2000-2001 season. (Affidavit of Michael sMassik, dated February 7, 2003, at U2). She had previously been a member in the years 1997 and 2000. (Defendant's Exhibit F). On July 19, 2000, in conjunction with her joining USFA, Ms. O'Connor signed a Waiver of Liability contained in the membership application. The Waiver stated:

YOU MUST SIGN WAIVER OF LIBILITY OR MEMBERSHIP WILL BE NULL AND VOID

Upon entering events sponsored by the USFA and/or its member Divisions, I agree to abide by the rules of the USFA, as currently published. I understand and appreciate that participation in a sport carries a risk to me of serious injury, including permanent paralysis or death. I voluntarily and knowingly recognize, accept and assume this risk and release the USFA, their sponsors, event organizers and officials from any liability.

(Defendant's Exhibit D). This language appears in the same type-size as the print on the remainder of the application. Directly below the Waiver of Liability are two signature lines, one for the member to sign and one for the member's parent or legal guardian to sign, if the member is under the age of eighteen. Id On July 19, 2000, plaintiff Erin O'Connor and her mother Sharon O'Connor both signed the Waiver of Liability (at that time plaintiff was under the age of eighteen). Id.

From March 16 through March 19, 2001, Ms. O'Connor competed in the NAC Division II/III/Veteran competition, in Overland Park, Kansas, sponsored by the USFA. (Defendant's Exhibit F). Ms. O'Connor participated in at least two events in that competition: the Division III Women's Saber event and the Division II Women's Saber event. Id.

On May 13, 2001, Ms. O'Connor submitted an Individual Entry Form to USFA indicating that she wished to participate in the 2001 USFA Summer National Championships from July 3 through July 11, 2001, in Sacramento, California. (Defendant's Exhibit E). The entry form clearly stated that the location of the event was Sacramento, California, and contained the following Waiver of Liability:

ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST READ AND SIGN EACH OF THE FOLLOING STATEMENTS (for athletes under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must also sign)

Waiver of Liability: Upon entering this tournament under the auspices of the USFA, I agree to abide by the current rules of the USFA. I enter this tournament at my own risk and release the USFA and its sponsors, referees and tournament organizers from any liability. The undersigned certifies that the birth date of the individual is as stated on the entry form and that the individual is a current competitive member of the USFA for the 2000-2001 fencing season.

Id. The Waiver is in the same size type as the remainder of the Entry Form. Directly following the Waiver of Liability are two signature lines, one for the member and one for the parent or guardian. Ms. O'Connor signed the Waiver of Liability on May 13, 2001. Id. Since she was over eighteen years of age at the time, her mother was not required to also sign the Waiver. Ms. O'Connor paid a fee of $135 to enroll in the tournament. (Affidavit of Erin O'Connor, dated February 24, 2003, at ¶ 3).

Ms. O'Connor was scheduled to compete in three events at the National Championships, the Division III Women's Saber event on July 8, the Division I-A Women's Saber event on July 9, and the Division II Women's Sabre event on July 10, 2001. (Entry Form, Def. Ex. E). Fencing is performed on a narrow strip, which competitors must stay on or risk a penalty. The fencing strips at the Sacramento Convention Center were set up by rolling out a thin metal film onto the floor. (O'Connor Aff. at ¶ 15-6). Sabre fencing is an energetic European style of fencing that involves complicated footwork and small jumps. Thus, footing is a critical component of this style of fencing. Id. at 4.

On July 8, 2001, while competing in the Division III Women's Sabre event, Ms. O'Connor suffered a serious knee injury when she lost her footing on the metal fencing strips. Ms. O'Connor was executing a lunge, a maneuver where she propelled her right foot forward by pushing off her left foot. According to Ms. O'Connor, she lost her footing when executing this maneuver because the strip was not properly anchored. (O'Connor Aff. at ¶ 9). As a result of losing her footing, Ms. O'Connor's right knee twisted severely, requiring surgery to repair the injury. As a result of this incident, Ms. O'Connor will, in all likelihood, need knee replacement surgery by the time she is forty years old. Id.

Ms. O'Connor alleges that USFA prepared the fencing surface including the metal strips, and was negligent in either providing defective equipment, or in not properly preparing the fencing surface for the competition. (O'Connor Aff. at ¶ ¶ 9-10). Ms. O'Connor further contends that USFA was in a position of superior knowledge and control regarding safety at the tournament, and that she reasonably relied upon this knowledge and expertise because she was an inexperienced amateur who was competing in her first national tournament. Id. Michael Massik, the Executive Director of USFA, stated in response that the strips are obtained from a third-party, Illinois Fencing, and that USFA did not prepare the competition area, including the metal strips. (Massik Aff. at ¶ 7). On October 17, 2002, Ms. O'Connor filed the instant action alleging negligence on the part of USFA in using unsuitable material for the fencing strips and failing to properly affix the strips to the ground. (Complaint ¶¶ 15-18, Defendant's Exhibit A). The complaint alleges that the injury occurred on July 3, 2001 (Complaint ¶ ¶ 12, 14), apparently as a result of a typographical error. (O'Connor Aff. at ¶ ¶ 11; Affidavit of Gary Port, dated February 24, 2003, at ¶ ¶ 10-14). USFA has moved to dismiss the complaint pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) because it alleges that the injury occurred on July 3, a day on which Ms. O'Connor admittedly did not participate in any USFA sponsored competitions. In the alternative, USFA also seeks summary judgment on the basis of the two waivers of liability signed by Ms. O'Connor.

DISCUSSION

I. EXPRESS WAIVER OF LIABILITY

USFA...