895.52 Annotation
That a local firefighter's picnic generated profits that were used for park maintenance and improvements and the purchase of fire equipment did not result in the event being a commercial, rather than recreational, activity under this section. Fischer v. Doylestown Fire Department,
199 Wis. 2d 83,
549 N.W.2d 575 (Ct. App. 1995),
95-0796.
895.52 Annotation
Land need not be open for recreational use for immunity to apply under this section. The focus is on the activity of the person who enters on and uses the land. Immunity applies without regard to the owner's permission. Verdoljak v. Mosinee Paper Corp.
200 Wis. 2d 624,
547 N.W.2d 602 (1996),
94-2549.
895.52 Annotation
An activity essentially recreational in nature will not be divided into component parts, at one moment recreational and at another not, in applying this section. Verdoljak v. Mosinee Paper Corp.
200 Wis. 2d 624,
547 N.W.2d 602 (1996),
94-2549.
895.52 Annotation
Recreational immunity does not attach to a landowner when an act of the landowner's officer, employee, or agent that is unrelated to the maintenance or condition of the land causes injury to a recreational land user. Kosky v. International Association of Lions Clubs,
210 Wis. 2d 463,
565 N.W.2d 260 (Ct. App. 1997),
96-2532.
895.52 Annotation
A portable ice shanty located on a frozen lake does not qualify as recreational "property," and its presence on the lake is insufficient to establish its owner as an "occupant" of the lake entitled to recreational immunity. Doane v. Helenville Mutual Insurance Co.
216 Wis. 2d 345,
575 N.W.2d 734 (Ct. App. 1998),
97-1420.
895.52 Annotation
Walking for exercise through a park on the way to do errands was a recreational activity. Lasky v. City of Stevens Point,
220 Wis. 2d 1,
582 N.W.2d 64 (Ct. App. 1998),
97-2728.
895.52 Annotation
To find immunity under this section, the court must examine not only the plaintiff's reason for being on the property, but also the activity taking place on the property. While a spectator's presence at a school football game is recreational, the exception from landowner immunity for injuries incurred in recreational activities for sponsors of organized sports extends to spectators, not just participants. Meyer v. School District of Colby,
226 Wis. 2d 704,
595 N.W.2d 339 (1999),
98-0482.
895.52 Annotation
An attendee at a fair who was injured while attempting to capture a runaway steer was engaged in recreational activity. There is no "Good Samaritan" exception to the recreational immunity provided by this section. Schultz v. Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance, Co.
229 Wis. 2d 513,
600 N.W.2d 243 (Ct. App. 1999),
98-3466.
895.52 Annotation
Immunity for nonprofit organizations is not limited to those that act in the public interest and gratuitously open their land to the general public. It is not a violation of equal protection to treat "non-charitable" nonprofit organizations differently than private property owners. Bethke v. Lauderdale of LaCrosse, Inc.
2000 WI App 107,
235 Wis. 2d 103,
612 N.W.2d 332,
99-1897.
895.52 Annotation
Although individual condominium unit owners held title to an undivided interest in common areas, a condominium association was an occupant and therefore an owner under sub. (1) (d). Bethke v. Lauderdale of LaCrosse, Inc.
2000 WI App 107,
235 Wis. 2d 103,
612 N.W.2d 332,
99-1897.
895.52 Annotation
The owner of property subject to an easement is an "owner" under sub. (1) (d). The plaintiff's walking across the easement to gain access to a boat was recreational as the walk was inextricably connected to recreational activity. The plaintiff user of the easement, who was granted the right to use it by a 3rd-person holder of the easement, was not a social guest of the land owner under sub. (6) (d) expressly and individually invited to use the property. The fact that the easement owner granted the right of use as part of the sale of the boat did not render the landowner exempt from immunity under sub. (6) (a). Urban v. Grasser,
2001 WI 63,
243 Wis. 2d 673,
627 N.W.2d 511,
99-0933.
895.52 Annotation
An "owner" under sub. (1) (d) 1. includes an "occupant." A child who is an occupant is capable of extending an invitation that triggers the social guest exception. under sub. (6) (d). A guest's continuous act that begins on an owner's property but propels the guest a few feet from the property where an injury occurs compelled the conclusion that sub. (6) (d) must be construed to allow for the extension of the social guest status to the injuries suffered. Waters v. Pertzborn,
2001 WI 62,
243 Wis. 2d 703,
627 N.W.2d 497,
99-1702.
895.52 Annotation
This section is liberally construed in favor of property owners when the activity in question is not specifically listed but is substantially similar to listed activities or when the activity is undertaken in circumstances substantially similar to the circumstances of a recreational activity. Minnesota Fire & Casualty Insurance Co. v. Paper Recycling of LaCrosse,
2001 WI 64,
244 Wis. 2d 290,
627 N.W.2d 527,
99-0327.
895.52 Annotation
Because a child's subjective assessment of recreational activity could include every form of child's play, an objective, reasonable adult standard must be applied to determine whether a child's play is recreational. Crawling through stacks of baled paper at an industrial site while lighting matches and starting fires was not recreational activity. Minnesota Fire & Casualty Insurance Co. v. Paper Recycling of LaCrosse,
2001 WI 64,
244 Wis. 2d 290,
627 N.W.2d 527,
99-0327.
895.52 Annotation
The nature of property can be a significant factor in determining whether an activity is recreational, although it is not dispositive. That a commercial site is used only for a business purpose that is not open to the public, as indicated by a fence to keep people away, argues against childrens' mischievous conduct on the premises being substantially similar to a recreational activity. Minnesota Fire & Casualty Insurance Co. v. Paper Recycling of LaCrosse,
2001 WI 64,
244 Wis. 2d 290,
627 N.W.2d 527,
99-0327.
895.52 Annotation
A deer stand is a "structure" under sub. (1) (f). A structure or improvement need not be owned by the owner of the underlying land to constitute "property" under sub. (1) (f). Peterson v. Midwest Security Insurance Co.
2001 WI 131,
248 Wis. 2d 567,
636 N.W.2d 727,
99-2987.
895.52 Annotation
A suit by an elementary school student injured while playing during a mandatory school recess was not barred by this section because the student did not enter the school property to engage in a recreational activity, but for education purposes in order to comply with the state's compulsory attendance and truancy laws. Auman v. School District of Stanley-Boyd,
2001 WI 125,
248 Wis. 2d 548,
635 N.W.2d 762,
00-2356.
895.52 Annotation
Sponsorship under sub. (1) (g) contemplates a relationship between the person or organization paying for or planning the project or activity and the intended beneficiary and envisions a relationship between the sponsor and the activity resulting in financial benefits to the sponsor. That a city sponsored one soccer association did not mean it was a sponsor of all organized soccer team activities on city fields. Miller v. Wausau Underwriters Insurance Co.
2003 WI App 58,
260 Wis. 2d 581,
659 N.W.2d 494,
02-1632.
895.52 Annotation
That plaintiff's claim was she was injured when she became infected with E Coli as a result of climbing on farm equipment and not as a result of an activity on land or improvements to land was irrelevant. Whether or not the equipment was property within the meaning of this section, the injuring mechanism was not the farm equipment, but rather the bacteria from animal waste tracked onto the equipment from the defendant's real property and was directly related to the condition or maintenance of the defendant's real property. Kautz v. Ozaukee County Agricultural Society,
2004 WI App 202,
276 Wis. 2d 833,
689 N.W.2d 771,
03-3281.
895.52 Annotation
An owner under sub. (1) (d) 1. includes a person who has the actual use of the property without legal title, dominion, or tenancy and encompasses a resident of land who is more transient than either a lessee or an owner. An owner under sub. (1) (d) 2. is a governmental body or nonprofit organization that has a written authorization granted by an owner permitting public access to the owner's property for any recreational activity. It would be unreasonable to allow a snowmobile association immunity if it were granted an easement directly, but disallowing it if the easement went first to a government entity, which then arranged with the association to manage, maintain, and construct the trails necessary for recreational access. Leu v. Price County Snowmobile Trails Association, Inc.
2005 WI App 81,
280 Wis. 2d 765,
695 N.W.2d 889,
04-1859.
895.52 Annotation
Walking may or may not be a recreational activity under the statute, depending on the circumstances. Mere presence on property suitable for recreational activity when a plaintiff is injured does not, ipso facto, make this section applicable. Although the injured person's subjective assessment of the activity is pertinent, it is not controlling. A court must consider the nature of the property, the nature of the owner's activity, and the reason the injured person is on the property. A court should consider the totality of circumstances surrounding the activity, including the intrinsic nature, purpose, and consequences of the activity. Rintelman v. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, Inc.
2005 WI App 246,
288 Wis. 2d 394,
707 N.W.2d 897,
04-2669.
895.52 Annotation
The legislature did not enact this section to stop landowners from engaging in negligent behavior, but to induce property owners to open their land for recreational use. Recreational users are to bear the risk of the recreational activity. Held v. Ackerville Snow Club,
2007 WI App 43,
300 Wis. 2d 498,
730 N.W.2d 428,
06-0914.
895.52 Annotation
This section does not distinguish between active and passive negligence. Claims for passive negligence, such as a snowmobile club's alleged failure to retrieve grooming equipment from a trail, were no more viable than claims for active negligence, such as an alleged decision to leave the disabled equipment partially on the trail in a blind curve. All of the acts alleged were related to the condition or maintenance of the snowmobile trail. Held v. Ackerville Snow Club,
2007 WI App 43,
300 Wis. 2d 498,
730 N.W.2d 428,
06-0914.
895.52 Annotation
Sub. (1) (c) does not define nonprofit by referencing the chapter under which corporations were incorporated, either ch. 180 or 181, so that factor is not dispositive of the question. It would be an absurd result to read this section as making a for-profit organization out of an organization that throughout its existence has been governed by articles of incorporation that define it as a nonprofit, has been documented by state agencies as a nonprofit, and has been in compliance with IRS regulations as a nonprofit. De La Trinidad v. Capitol Indemnity Corporation,
2009 WI 8,
315 Wis. 2d 324,
759 N.W.2d 586,
07-0045.
895.52 Annotation
An occupant under sub. (1) (d) 1. includes persons who, while not owners or tenants, have the actual use of land. Occupant includes one who has the actual use of property without legal title, dominion, or tenancy. In order to give meaning to "occupies," the term should be interpreted to encompass a resident of land who is more transient than either a lessee or an owner. Milton v. Washburn County,
2011 WI App 48_
332 Wis. 2d 319,
797 N.W.2d 924,
10-0316.
895.52 Annotation
Wisconsin's Recreational Use Statute: Towards Sharpening the Picture at the Edges. 1991 WLR 491.
895.52 Annotation
Minnesota Fire & Casualty Insurance Co. v. Paper Recycling of LaCrosse: Why Property Owners Should Fear the Mischief of Boys at Play and Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices at Work. Salva. 2002 WLR 999.
895.52 Annotation
Wisconsin's Recreational Use Statute. Pendleton. Wis. Law. May 1993.
895.523
895.523
Recreational activities in a school building or on school grounds; limitation of liability. 895.523(1)(a)
(a) "Governing body of a charter school" means the person that operates a charter school established under
s. 118.40 (2) or
(2m) or the entity that operates a charter school established under
s. 118.40 (2r).
895.523(1)(b)
(b) "Injury" means an injury to a person or to property.
895.523(1)(c)1.1. Except as provided in
subd. 2., "recreational activity" means all of the following:
895.523(1)(c)1.a.
a. Any indoor physical activity, sport, team sport, or game, whether organized or unorganized, undertaken for the purpose of exercise, relaxation, diversion, education, or pleasure.
895.523(1)(c)1.b.
b. Any outdoor activity undertaken for the purpose of exercise, relaxation, or pleasure, including practice or instruction in any such activity. In this
subd. 1. b., "outdoor activity" includes hunting, fishing, trapping, camping, picnicking, exploring caves, nature study, bicycling, horseback riding, bird-watching, motorcycling, operating an all-terrain vehicle, ballooning, hang gliding, hiking, tobogganing, sledding, sleigh riding, snowmobiling, skiing, skating, water sports, sight-seeing, rock-climbing, cutting or removing wood, climbing observation towers, animal training, harvesting the products of nature, sport shooting, and any other outdoor sport, game, or educational activity.
895.523(1)(c)2.
2. "Recreational activity" does not include any indoor or outdoor organized team sport or activity organized and held by a school district, school board, or governing body of a charter school.
895.523(1)(d)
(d) "Recreational agreement" means a written authorization granted by a school board or the governing body of a charter school to a person that permits public access to all or a specified part of the school grounds for the purpose of any recreational activity and that satisfies the requirements under
sub. (5).
895.523(1)(e)
(e) "School board" means the school board or board of school directors in charge of the public schools of a school district.
895.523(1)(f)
(f) "School building" means a building designed for and used as a school by a school district, by a school board, or by the governing body of a charter school.
895.523(1)(g)
(g) "School grounds" means real property, and any school buildings, accessory buildings, structures, and improvements thereon, owned, leased, or rented by a school district, by a school board, or by the governing body of a charter school and used primarily for public school purposes.
895.523(1)(gm)
(gm) "Spectator" means a person who attends or watches a recreational activity but does not engage or participate in or intend to engage or participate in the recreational activity.
895.523(1)(h)
(h) "Sport" means an activity requiring physical exertion and skill and which, by its nature and organization, is competitive and includes a set of rules for play.
895.523(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in
sub. (3), no school district, no school board, no governing body of a charter school, and no officer, employee, or agent of a school board or of a governing body of a charter school, owes to any person who enters the school grounds of the school board or of the governing body of a charter school to engage or participate in a recreational activity held pursuant to a recreational agreement any of the following:
895.523(2)(a)1.
1. A duty to keep the school grounds safe for the recreational activity.
895.523(2)(a)3.
3. A duty to give warning of an unsafe condition, use, or activity on the school grounds.
895.523(2)(b)
(b) Except as provided in
sub. (3), no school district, no school board, no governing body of a charter school, and no officer, employee, or agent of a school board or of a governing body of a charter school, is liable for the death of, any injury to, or any death or injury caused by, a person engaging or participating in a recreational activity held pursuant to a recreational agreement and taking place on the school grounds of the school board or of the governing body of a charter school.
895.523(3)
(3) Liability. Subsection (2) does not limit the liability of a school district, a school board, a governing body of a charter school, or an officer, employee, or agent of the school board or of the governing body of a charter school for any of the following:
895.523(3)(a)
(a) A death or injury caused by a malicious act or by a malicious failure to warn against an unsafe condition of which an officer, employee, or agent of the school board or of the governing body of a charter school knew, which occurs on the school grounds of the school board or of the governing body of a charter school designated for use in a recreational agreement and being used by a person for a recreational activity held pursuant to the recreational agreement.
895.523(3)(b)
(b) The death of or injury to a spectator that occurs on the school grounds of the school board or of the governing body of a charter school designated for use in a recreational agreement during the recreational activity.
895.523(3)(c)
(c) The death of or injury to a person participating in a recreational activity involving any of the following pursuant to a recreational agreement:
895.523(4)
(4) No duty or liability created. Except as expressly provided in this section, nothing in this section or
s. 101.11 nor the common law attractive nuisance doctrine creates any duty of care or ground of liability toward any person who uses school grounds to engage or participate in a recreational activity held pursuant to a recreational agreement.
895.523(5)
(5) Recreational agreement. Each recreational agreement shall include all of the following:
895.523(5)(a)
(a) A description of the recreational activity or activities to be held on the school grounds pursuant to the agreement.
895.523(5)(b)
(b) The time and place of the recreational activity or activities.
895.523(5)(c)
(c) Any eligibility requirements for participation in the recreational activity or activities.
895.523(5)(d)
(d) Whether and, if so, to what extent participants who are minors will be supervised.
895.523(5)(e)
(e) A clear statement describing a participant's assumption of risk.
895.523 History
History: 2011 a. 162.
895.525
895.525
Participation in recreational activities; restrictions on civil liability, assumption of risk. 895.525(1)
(1)
Legislative purpose. The legislature intends by this section to establish the responsibilities of participants in recreational activities in order to decrease uncertainty regarding the legal responsibility for deaths or injuries that result from participation in recreational activities and thereby to help assure the continued availability in this state of enterprises that offer recreational activities to the public.
895.525(2)
(2) Definition. In this section, "recreational activity" means any activity undertaken for the purpose of exercise, relaxation or pleasure, including practice or instruction in any such activity. "Recreational activity" does not include participating in a snow sport at a ski area, as those terms are defined in
s. 167.33, but includes hunting, fishing, trapping, camping, bowling, billiards, picnicking, exploring caves, nature study, dancing, bicycling, horseback riding, horseshoe-pitching, bird-watching, motorcycling, operating an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle, ballooning, curling, throwing darts, hang gliding, hiking, sleigh riding, snowmobiling, skating, participation in water sports, weight and fitness training, sight-seeing, rock-climbing, cutting or removing wood, climbing observation towers, animal training, harvesting the products of nature, sport shooting, and participating in a snow sport outside a ski area, as those terms are defined in
s. 167.33, and any other sport, game or educational activity.
895.525 Note
NOTE: Sub. (2) is shown below as affected by
2011 Wis. Acts 199 and
208 and as merged by the legislative reference bureau under s. 13.92 (2) (i).
895.525(3)
(3) Appreciation of risk. A participant in a recreational activity engaged in on premises owned or leased by a person who offers facilities to the general public for participation in recreational activities accepts the risks inherent in the recreational activity of which the ordinary prudent person is or should be aware. In a negligence action for recovery of damages for death, personal injury or property damage, conduct by a participant who accepts the risks under this subsection is contributory negligence, to which the comparative negligence provisions of
s. 895.045 shall apply.
895.525(4)(a)(a) A participant in a recreational activity engaged in on premises owned or leased by a person who offers facilities to the general public for participation in recreational activities is responsible to do all of the following:
895.525(4)(a)2.
2. Heed all warnings regarding participation in the recreational activity.
895.525(4)(a)3.
3. Maintain control of his or her person and the equipment, devices or animals the person is using while participating in the recreational activity.
895.525(4)(a)4.
4. Refrain from acting in any manner that may cause or contribute to the death or injury to himself or herself or to other persons while participating in the recreational activity.
895.525(4)(b)
(b) A violation of this subsection constitutes negligence. The comparative negligence provisions of
s. 895.045 apply to negligence under this subsection.
895.525(4m)
(4m) Liability of contact sports participants. 895.525(4m)(a)(a) A participant in a recreational activity that includes physical contact between persons in a sport involving amateur teams, including teams in recreational, municipal, high school and college leagues, may be liable for an injury inflicted on another participant during and as part of that sport in a tort action only if the participant who caused the injury acted recklessly or with intent to cause injury.
895.525(4m)(b)
(b) Unless the professional league establishes a clear policy with a different standard, a participant in an athletic activity that includes physical contact between persons in a sport involving professional teams in a professional league may be liable for an injury inflicted on another participant during and as part of that sport in a tort action only if the participant who caused the injury acted recklessly or with intent to cause injury.
895.525(5)
(5) Effect on related provisions. Nothing in this section affects the limitation of property owners' liability under
s. 895.52 or the limitation of school districts' liability, of school boards' liability, and of liability of governing bodies of charter schools under
s. 895.523.
895.525 Annotation
This section codifies common law. It does not impose a greater duty of care on individuals than exists at common law. Rockweit v. Senecal,
197 Wis. 2d 409,
541 N.W.2d 742 (1995),
93-1130.
895.525 Annotation
Sub. (3) does not mean that all who ski are negligent under all circumstances. Sub. (3) and (4) when read together impose an obligation of ordinary care on a skier to avoid foreseeable harms, including adherence to the conditions enumerated in sub. (4). Ansani v. Cascade Mountain, Inc.
223 Wis. 2d 39,
588 N.W.2d 321 (Ct. App. 1998),
97-3514.
895.525 Annotation
Cheerleaders are immune from negligence actions because they participate in a recreational activity that includes physical contact between persons in a sport involving amateur teams. Cheerleading is a sport because a sport is an activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs. Cheerleaders are on amateur teams because a team is a group organized to work together and cheerleaders are a group dedicated to leading fan participation and taking part in competitions. Cheerleading involves a significant amount of contact among the participants that at times can produce a forceful interaction between the cheerleaders when one person is tossed high into the air and then caught by those same tossers. Noffke v. Bakke,
2009 WI 10,
315 Wis. 2d 350,
760 N.W.2d 156,
06-1886.
895.525 Annotation
Go Team! Wisconsin's Latest Recreational Immunity controversy. Condon. Wis. Law. June 2009.
895.526
895.526
Participation in a snow sport; restrictions on civil liability, assumption of risk. 895.526(1)
(1)
Definitions. All definitions in
s. 167.33 apply to this section unless the context otherwise requires.
