Sports and Event Liability and Risk Management

Some of Ricci Tyrrell’s longest client relationships are encompassed within its representation in the areas of Sports and Event Liability and Risk Management. For decades, our attorneys have represented professional and collegiate sports teams; stadium, arena and facility operators; promoters and carriers insuring the unique risks attendant to both spectator events and participation sports. Such sports and facilities have included professional and college football and basketball, ice rinks, golf courses, paintball facilities, gymnastics clubs, rowing associations, soccer associations, theaters and concert venues.

Our attorneys have handled hundreds of litigation matters raising premises liability issues in this arena including contentions relating to security, excessive force, slip resistance, liquor liability, maintenance and supervision. In addition to defense trial verdicts, we have the expertise to pursue dispositive motions for our clients based on the hills and ridges doctrine, the triviality of an alleged defect, governmental immunity, and release and waiver. We also have considerable expertise in prosecuting and defending contractual indemnity and additional insurance claims between and among contractors, both at trial and through declaratory judgment proceedings.

Beyond litigation, we offer our clients risk management services including the drafting and evaluation of participation agreements, patron signage and communications, prospective and participatory releases. We have also provided risk assessment training to staff at venues in order to provide proactive safety measures and investigation and documentation of incidents when they occur.

There may be no firm in the Philadelphia region with the unique expertise we possess in these areas.

Practice Group Members: John E. Tyrrell, Patrick J. McStravick