Waivers

Landmark Ruling: Colorado Jury Awards $12.4 Million to Paralyzed Skier, Challenging Long-Standing Liability Waivers in Ski Industry

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CRESTED BUTTE, Colo. — A jury has awarded $12.4 million to Annie Miller, a woman paralyzed after falling from a chairlift at Crested Butte Mountain Resort in March 2022. This ruling represents a significant shift in the legal landscape concerning ski resorts, which have historically relied on liability waivers to shield themselves from lawsuits. Miller, then 16 years old and on a ski trip with her church group from Oklahoma, fell approximately 30 feet when she slipped from the Paradise Express lift. Her family contended that the lift operators were negligent, alleging that they failed … Read more

DHS Fast-Tracks Border Wall Construction in Arizona and New Mexico with New Waivers Ignoring Environmental Laws

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The Department of Homeland Security has taken significant steps to expedite border wall construction in Arizona and New Mexico by issuing three new waivers affecting approximately 36 miles of the project. These waivers, approved by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, allow the agency to sidestep certain environmental regulations to facilitate the building process. The waivers enable the Department to bypass laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act, which is designed to ensure thorough environmental assessments. By using this authority, DHS aims to minimize potential administrative delays in constructing physical barriers and related infrastructure at the … Read more

Legal Battle Surges Over Waivers for California Offshore Oil Pipeline Amid Environmental Concerns

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SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— The Office of the State Fire Marshal faces legal action over its decision last December to grant operational waivers to Texas-based Sable Offshore, enabling the oil firm to resume oil production off the Gaviota Coast without certain anti-corrosion protections. The issue stems from the controversial restart of a pipeline that was central to the massive 2015 Refugio oil spill, prompting a lawsuit filed by the Environmental Defense Center (EDC). In December, waivers issued by the fire marshal allowed Sable Offshore to operate the pipeline without cathodic protection, a critical safety feature designed … Read more

Secretary Noem Announces Controversial Waivers for San Diego Barrier Construction Amid Security Concerns

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San Diego, CA — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has announced sweeping actions to expedite the construction of barrier walls and roads in the San Diego region in response to concerns over illegal border crossings and drug trafficking. Noem revealed she would bypass numerous environmental and historical preservation regulations to fast-track these infrastructure projects. Under the authorization that Noem has exercised, quick elaboration of the projects is deemed essential to national security. The secretary cited escalating issues, particularly the cross-border trafficking of narcotics as a significant threat that the construction intends to curtail. This decision … Read more