895.515
895.515
Liability exemption; equipment or technology donation. 895.515(1)(a)
(a) "Commercial equipment or technology" means goods or related procedures used or bought for use primarily in a business, including farming and a profession.
895.515(1)(b)
(b) "Institution of higher education" means an institution within the University of Wisconsin System, a technical college or a private, nonprofit institution of higher education located in this state.
895.515(2)
(2) Any person engaged in the sale or use of commercial equipment or technology, for profit or not for profit, who donates any commercial equipment or technology to a public or private elementary or secondary school or an institution of higher education or who accepts reimbursement in an amount not to exceed overhead and transportation costs for any commercial equipment or technology provided to a public or private elementary or secondary school or to an institution of higher education is immune from civil liability for the death of or injury to an individual caused by the commercial equipment or technology.
895.515(3)
(3) This section does not apply if the death or injury was caused by a willful or wanton act or omission of the person who donated or accepted reimbursement for the commercial equipment or technology.
895.515(4m)
(4m) This section does not apply to the manufacturer of the donated commercial equipment or technology.
895.515 History
History: 1995 a. 112;
1997 a. 237.
895.517
895.517
Liability exemption: solid waste donation or sale. 895.517(2)
(2) Any person who donates or sells, at a price not exceeding overhead and transportation costs, solid waste, or a material that is separated from mixed soil waste, to a materials reuse program that is operated by a charitable organization, municipality or responsible unit is immune from civil liability for the death of or injury to an individual or the damage to property caused by the solid waste or material donated or sold by the person.
895.517(3)
(3) This section does not apply if the death or injury was caused by willful or wanton acts or omissions.
895.517(4)
(4) This section does not apply to the sale or donation of qualified food.
895.517 History
History: 1997 a. 60.
895.52
895.52
Recreational activities; limitation of property owners' liability. 895.52(1)(a)
(a) "Governmental body" means any of the following:
895.52(1)(a)3.
3. A county or municipal governing body, agency, board, commission, committee, council, department, district or any other public body corporate and politic created by constitution, statute, ordinance, rule or order.
895.52(1)(b)
(b) "Injury" means an injury to a person or to property.
895.52(1)(c)
(c) "Nonprofit organization" means an organization or association not organized or conducted for pecuniary profit.
895.52(1)(d)1.
1. A person, including a governmental body or nonprofit organization, that owns, leases or occupies property.
895.52(1)(d)2.
2. A governmental body or nonprofit organization that has a recreational agreement with another owner.
895.52(1)(e)
(e) "Private property owner" means any owner other than a governmental body or nonprofit organization.
895.52(1)(f)
(f) "Property" means real property and buildings, structures and improvements thereon, and the waters of the state, as defined under
s. 281.01 (18).
895.52(1)(g)
(g) "Recreational activity" means any outdoor activity undertaken for the purpose of exercise, relaxation or pleasure, including practice or instruction in any such activity. "Recreational 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. "Recreational activity" does not include any organized team sport activity sponsored by the owner of the property on which the activity takes place.
895.52(1)(h)
(h) "Recreational agreement" means a written authorization granted by an owner to a governmental body or nonprofit organization permitting public access to all or a specified part of the owner's property for any recreational activity.
895.52(1)(i)
(i) "Residential property" means a building or structure designed for and used as a private dwelling accommodation or private living quarters, and the land surrounding the building or structure within a 300-foot radius.
895.52(2)
(2) No duty; immunity from liability. 895.52(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in
subs. (3) to
(6), no owner and no officer, employee or agent of an owner owes to any person who enters the owner's property to engage in a recreational activity:
895.52(2)(a)1.
1. A duty to keep the property safe for recreational activities.
895.52(2)(a)3.
3. A duty to give warning of an unsafe condition, use or activity on the property.
895.52(2)(b)
(b) Except as provided in
subs. (3) to
(6), no owner and no officer, employee or agent of an owner is liable for the death of, any injury to, or any death or injury caused by, a person engaging in a recreational activity on the owner's property or for any death or injury resulting from an attack by a wild animal.
895.52(3)
(3) Liability; state property. Subsection (2) does not limit the liability of an officer, employee or agent of this state or of any of its agencies for either of the following:
895.52(3)(a)
(a) A death or injury that occurs on property of which this state or any of its agencies is the owner at any event for which the owner charges an admission fee for spectators.
895.52(3)(b)
(b) 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 knew, which occurs on property designated by the department of natural resources under
s. 23.115 or designated by another state agency for a recreational activity.
895.52(4)
(4) Liability; property of governmental bodies other than this state. Subsection (2) does not limit the liability of a governmental body other than this state or any of its agencies or of an officer, employee or agent of such a governmental body for either of the following:
895.52(4)(a)
(a) A death or injury that occurs on property of which a governmental body is the owner at any event for which the owner charges an admission fee for spectators.
895.52(4)(b)
(b) 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 a governmental body knew, which occurs on property designated by the governmental body for recreational activities.
895.52(5)
(5) Liability; property of nonprofit organizations. Subsection (2) does not limit the liability of a nonprofit organization or any of its officers, employees or agents for a death or injury caused by a malicious act or a malicious failure to warn against an unsafe condition of which an officer, employee or agent of the nonprofit organization knew, which occurs on property of which the nonprofit organization is the owner.
895.52(6)
(6) Liability; private property. Subsection (2) does not limit the liability of a private property owner or of an employee or agent of a private property owner whose property is used for a recreational activity if any of the following conditions exist:
895.52(6)(a)
(a) The private property owner collects money, goods or services in payment for the use of the owner's property for the recreational activity during which the death or injury occurs, and the aggregate value of all payments received by the owner for the use of the owner's property for recreational activities during the year in which the death or injury occurs exceeds $2,000. The following do not constitute payment to a private property owner for the use of his or her property for a recreational activity:
895.52(6)(a)1.
1. A gift of wild animals or any other product resulting from the recreational activity.
895.52(6)(a)2.
2. An indirect nonpecuniary benefit to the private property owner or to the property that results from the recreational activity.
895.52(6)(a)3.
3. A donation of money, goods or services made for the management and conservation of the resources on the property.
895.52(6)(a)4.
4. A payment of not more than $5 per person per day for permission to gather any product of nature on an owner's property.
895.52(6)(a)6.
6. A payment received from a nonprofit organization for a recreational agreement.
895.52(6)(b)
(b) The death or injury is caused by the malicious failure of the private property owner or an employee or agent of the private property owner to warn against an unsafe condition on the property, of which the private property owner knew.
895.52(6)(c)
(c) The death or injury is caused by a malicious act of the private property owner or of an employee or agent of a private property owner.
895.52(6)(d)
(d) The death or injury occurs on property owned by a private property owner to a social guest who has been expressly and individually invited by the private property owner for the specific occasion during which the death or injury occurs, if the death or injury occurs on any of the following:
895.52(6)(e)
(e) The death or injury is sustained by an employee of a private property owner acting within the scope of his or her duties.
895.52(7)
(7) 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 another's property for a recreational activity.
895.52 Note
NOTE: 1983 Wis. Act 418, which created this section, contains a statement of "legislative intent" in section 1.
895.52 Annotation
A municipality is immune from liability for a defective highway or public sidewalk only when it has turned them over, at least in part, to recreational activities and when damages result from recreational activity. Bystery v. Village of Sauk City,
146 Wis. 2d 247,
430 N.W.2d 611 (Ct. App. 1988).
895.52 Annotation
"Recreational activity" does not apply to random wanderings of a young child that are not similar to activities listed in sub. (1) (g). Shannon v. Shannon,
150 Wis. 2d 434,
442 N.W.2d 25 (1989).
895.52 Annotation
The state's role as trustee of public waters is equivalent to ownership, giving rise to recreational immunity. Sauer v. Reliance Insurance Company,
152 Wis. 2d 234,
448 N.W.2d 256 (Ct. App. 1989).
895.52 Annotation
Indirect pecuniary benefits constitute "payment" under sub. (6) (a). Douglas v. Dewey,
154 Wis. 2d 451,
453 N.W.2d 500 (Ct. App. 1990).
895.52 Annotation
By providing a lifeguard a landowner does not assume a duty to provide lifeguard services in a non-negligent manner. Ervin v. City of Kenosha,
159 Wis. 2d 464,
464 N.W.2d 654 (1991).
895.52 Annotation
For purposes of sub. (4) (b), conduct is "malicious" when it is the result of hatred, ill will, or revenge, or is undertaken when insult or injury is intended. Ervin v. City of Kenosha,
159 Wis. 2d 464,
464 N.W.2d 654 (1991).
895.52 Annotation
Immunity is not limited to injuries caused by defects in property itself, but applies to all injuries sustained during use. Johnson v. City of Darlington,
160 Wis. 2d 418,
466 N.W.2d 233 (Ct. App. 1991).
895.52 Annotation
A young child's inability to intend to engage in recreational activity does not render landowner immunity inapplicable when the activity is recreational in nature. Nelson v. Schreiner,
161 Wis. 2d 798,
469 N.W.2d 214 (Ct. App. 1991).
895.52 Annotation
Illegal gambling conducted by a club occupying city park land placed the club outside the protection of the immunity statute. Lee v. Elk Rod & Gun Club Inc.
164 Wis. 2d 103,
473 N.W.2d 581 (Ct. App. 1991).
895.52 Annotation
A party is not immune as an occupant when evidence unequivocally shows intentional and permanent abandonment of the premises had occurred. Mooney v. Royal Ins. Co.
164 Wis. 2d 516,
476 N.W.2d 287 (Ct. App. 1991).
895.52 Annotation
Walking to or from a non-immune activity does not change a landowner's status. Hupf v. City of Appleton,
165 Wis. 2d 215,
477 N.W.2d 69 (Ct. App. 1991).
895.52 Annotation
Sub. (2) (b) does not require a person injured by a wild animal to be engaged in a recreational activity for immunity to attach to the property owner. A captive deer is a wild animal. Hudson v. Janesville Conservation Club,
168 Wis. 2d 436,
484 N.W.2d 132 (1992).
895.52 Annotation
A municipal pier was the type of property intended to be covered by the recreational immunity statute. Crowbridge v. Village of Egg Harbor,
179 Wis. 2d 565,
508 N.W.2d 15 (Ct. App. 1993).
895.52 Annotation
A church that paid a fee to reserve park space, including a ball diamond, for a picnic where a "pickup" softball was played was not a sponsor of an organized team sport activity under sub. (1) (g). Weina v. Atlantic Mutual Ins. Co.
179 Wis. 2d 774,
508 N.W.2d 67 (Ct. App. 1993).
895.52 Annotation
Whether a person intended to engage in recreational activity is not dispositive in determining whether recreational activity is engaged in. The nature and purpose of the activity must be given primary consideration. Linville v. City of Janesville,
184 Wis. 2d 705,
516 N.W.2d 427 (1994).
895.52 Annotation
Recreational immunity does not extend to activities of the landowner acting independently of its functions as owner. Immunity did not apply to city paramedics providing service to an accident victim at a city park. Linville v. City of Janesville,
184 Wis. 2d 705,
516 N.W.2d 427 (1994).
895.52 Annotation
Limited liability for nonprofit organizations is not unconstitutional on equal protection grounds. Szarzynski v. YMCA, Camp Minikani,
184 Wis. 2d 875,
517 N.W.2d 135 (1994).
895.52 Annotation
Visiting a neighbor to say hello is not a recreational activity under this section. Sievert v. American Family Mut. Ins. Co.
190 Wis. 2d 413,
528 N.W.2d 413 (1995).
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).
