'Ski buddy' sued in heli-ski death
There is a rather interesting law suite before the Supreme Court of Canada this week concerning a case between the widow of a heli skier and a 'ski buddy'.
The typical law suite is between the heli ski operation and the surviving family member but this one has an unusual twist in that Elizabeth Kennedy, the widow of Mark Kennedy who died during a heli-ski trip north of Revelstoke, B.C., in January 2009 is suing Adrien Coe, Mark's 'ski buddy'. She claims that Adrian was her husbands 'ski buddy' and therefore obligated to ski close enough to Mark so that he could help Mark or alert the guides that he had fallen into a tree well. Mark unfortunately died from the incident or cardiac arrest as a result of the fall as the defendant claims.
The widow Andrea Kennedy is now seeking compensation for the loss of her husband’s future earnings. This is after she had been given half of her deceased husbands assets in his will which amounted to a cool $18 million.
Even if you don't have a 18million dollar fortune this case could set a precedent for 'ski buddies' and their responsibilities for not just heli and cat skiing but perhaps backcountry skiing as well.
Is this just a case of greed, retribution or spite? Or, does the defendant have a legitimate case?
Here is what the CBC report says:
A widow whose husband died in a fall while backcountry skiing in southeastern B.C. says his “ski buddy” is responsible for his death, a B.C. Supreme Court heard Monday.
Elizabeth Kennedy’s husband, Mark, participated in a heli-skiing trip arranged by mountain guide company Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing in January 2009.
The group was skiing on a remote mountain north of Revelstoke, B.C., when Kennedy, who signed a release waiving the company from any liability, fell in a tree well — a hole created when deep snow accumulates around the base of a tree.
Elizabeth Kennedy is now suing another skier in the group, a British tourist named Adrian Coe.
According to court documents filed in B.C. Supreme Court, Kennedy says Coe was her husband’s “ski buddy” and was therefore obligated to stay close to him, keep him in sight, and assist or alert guides and other skiers if he observed his buddy in need of assistance.
The documents allege Coe failed to perform his duties as a “ski buddy” and therefore delayed the search and possibly a chance to rescue and revive Mark Kennedy.
'Ski buddy' responds
But court documents filed in response to the civil claim say Coe and Kennedy were paired up for “the purpose of skiing forested portions” and that the area in which Kennedy fell into a tree well was not forested, but had small trees that were just visible above the snow.
Coe says he was paired with Kennedy without any consultation and that he alerted guides as soon as he noticed Kennedy was no longer with the group, shortly after Coe and the other skiers arrived at the bottom of the run.
The documents allege Kennedy had been on heli-skiing trips with the same operator at least four previous times and that he was well aware of the terrain and the risks involved with such an activity.
In addition, the documents allege Kennedy’s death was not caused by his fall into a tree well, but by “some type of fatal or near fatal medical distress, likely a cardiac arrest.”
Seeking compensation
Kennedy was a successful trial lawyer in Colorado before his death. His wife, Elizabeth, has been given half the assets in his will amounting to more than $18 million.
Her civil case is seeking compensation for the loss of her husband’s future earnings.
The trial is expected to continue until Dec. 13.
