Sunday, April 1, 2012

Avy Deaths Legal Ramifications

Legal ramifications of avalanche incidents seem to be very rare in North America.  The most prominent is the CMH Bay Street incident, in which the court essentially ruled that the guides merely need to be following proper protocol, as opposed to being correct in their stability assessments.

Criminal prosecutions occasionally occur in Europe for avalanche incidents, once even against the Chamonix Mayor for failing to evacuate at-risk residences.

The latest European prosecution involves manslaughter charges against two instructors for the death of a client.  A few years ago two snowboarders were found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to short jail terms for triggering an avalanche that killed a victim in another party.

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