County on hook for mountain biker’s quadriplegia; top court won’t weigh in
TORONTO — An Ontario municipality that operated an adventure park has lost its bid to have the country’s highest court review its liability for a mountain biker’s devastating injury.
In a case closely watched by other public authorities, the Supreme Court of Canada on Thursday dismissed a request by Bruce County to appeal a finding that it was entirely to blame for the accident that left Stephen Campbell quadriplegic.
Local governments in Ontario have long fretted about “liability chill,” arguing they have had to cut services or even ban activities such as tobogganing for fear of having to pay huge awards in cases where something goes tragically wrong.
“It may be that municipal governments just don’t do these kinds of activities — they totally withdraw from them,” said Pat Vanini, executive director of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.