As a martial art school owner, this is absolutely frightening. Please note
this is in Canada:
Thomas Gordon
Master's Seminars April 16-18, 2010
www.GordonMartialArts.com/april
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http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Parents+waive+child+right+negligence+Judgm
ent/2091198/story.html
Parents can't waive child's right to sue for negligence: Judgment
By Katie Mercer, The ProvinceOctober 9, 2009
Parents have no right to waive their children's right to sue, according to a
B.C. Supreme Court decision this week.
Victor Wong was 12 years old when his mother signed a liability waiver to
enroll him in a Hapkido school, a Korean martial art.
Wong was 16 when he was allegedly violently thrown to the ground during a
sparring match. At 20, he still suffers from his injuries.
Wong is suing Michael Lok, the owner of Lok's Martial Arts Centre in
Richmond, and his sparring partner for negligence.
He argues that Lok failed to provide preventative measures to screen
participants, instruct them, require protective gear and supervise matches.
However, Lok argues that the claim should be dismissed as Wong's mother
signed a waiver protecting him from litigation.
B.C. Justice Peter Willcock disagreed, ruling that, under the Infants Act of
B.C., a parent can not waive their child's rights to sue for negligence.
"The Act does not permit a parent or guardian to bind an infant to an
agreement waiving the infant's right to bring an action in damages in tort,"
Willcock found in his decision.
The case is scheduled to proceed in November.
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