A snowmobile crash two days after layoff tests the limits of onboarding waivers
A Utah court clarified when employer liability waivers can be enforced – and HR teams with seasonal workers should pay attention.
On March 26, 2026, the Utah Supreme Court issued its decision in a case arising from a snowmobile crash, a COVID-era layoff of nearly all staff, and a St. Patrick's Day gathering on the mountain. The ruling narrows a century-old precedent on employer liability waivers and raises practical questions about what happens when former employees are injured on company property after termination.
Here is what happened. William Olson and Lark Pyper were seasonal lift operators at Deer Valley Ski Resort during the 2019–2020 winter season. During onboarding, both signed a liability waiver titled “Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims, Warning, Assumption of Risk and Indemnity Agreement,” releasing Deer Valley from liability for injuries sustained while participating in defined “activities” at the resort, including injuries caused by Deer Valley’s negligence. As consideration, they received a free ski pass that allowed them to ski at Deer Valley and several other resorts while off duty. When COVID-19 led the resort to close in March 2020, Deer Valley laid off nearly all staff, including Olson and Pyper.
Two days later, Olson and Pyper returned to the resort to drop off their uniforms. While there, they learned that some former coworkers were hosting a St. Patrick’s Day party on...
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