SERCOMBE, J.
Plaintiff Bagley, after suffering serious injuries while snowboarding over a "jump" in defendant Mt. Bachelor, Inc.'s (Mt. Bachelor) "terrain park," brought this action alleging negligence in the design, construction, maintenance, or inspection of that jump.
In reviewing a grant of summary judgment, we view the facts, along with all reasonable inferences that may be drawn from them, in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party — here, Bagley on Mt. Bachelor's motion and Mt. Bachelor on Bagley's cross-motion. ORCP 47 C; Vaughn v. First Transit, Inc., 346 Or. 128, 132, 206 P.3d 181 (2009). On September 29, 2005, just under two weeks before his 18th birthday, Bagley purchased a "season pass" from Mt. Bachelor. Bagley was a skilled and experienced snowboarder, having purchased season passes from Mt. Bachelor for each of the preceding three years and having classified his skill level as of early 2006, immediately prior to the injury, as "advanced expert." Upon purchasing the season pass, he executed
(Underscoring and capitalization in original; emphases added.) The reverse side of the document detailed the "Duties of Skiers" pursuant to ORS 30.990 and ORS 30.985 and also included printed notification that "Skiers/Snowboarders/Snowriders Assume Certain Risks" under ORS 30.975 — the "inherent risks of skiing."
(Capitalization in original; emphasis added.)
Less than two weeks after purchasing the season pass and executing the above-quoted release agreement, Bagley reached the age of majority — turning 18 on October 12, 2005. Thereafter, on November 18, 2005, Bagley began using the pass, on which the crux of the release agreement was also printed:
(Capitalization in original; emphasis added.) Further, the following sign was posted at each of Mt. Bachelor's ski lift terminals:
(Capitalization in original; emphases added.)
Ultimately, beginning on November 18, 2005, after his 18th birthday, Bagley used his season pass to ride Mt. Bachelor's lifts at least 119 times over the course of 26 days spent snowboarding at the ski area. However, on February 16, 2006, while snowboarding over a manmade jump in Mt. Bachelor's "air chamber" terrain park, Bagley sustained serious injuries resulting in permanent paralysis.
On June 16, 2006, approximately four months later, Bagley provided Mt. Bachelor with formal notice of his injury under ORS 30.980(1), which requires that "[a] ski area operator * * * be notified of any injury to a skier * * * within 180 days after the injury * * *." Nearly two years after the injury, on February 15, 2008, Bagley brought this action — filing a complaint alleging negligence on Mt. Bachelor's part in designing, constructing, maintaining, or inspecting the jump on which Bagley was injured. Mt. Bachelor answered, in part, by invoking the affirmative defense of release — pointing to the above-quoted release agreements signed by Bagley and his father prior to the date of injury.
Mt. Bachelor quickly moved for summary judgment on that ground, arguing before the trial court that, by failing to disaffirm the voidable release agreement within a reasonable
Bagley then filed a cross-motion for partial summary judgment as to Mt. Bachelor's affirmative defense of release, arguing that "there [was] no genuine issue of material fact [as to whether] the release [was] void and unenforceable as a matter of law." Specifically, Bagley argued that he timely disaffirmed the release agreement by (1) notifying Mt. Bachelor of the injury pursuant to ORS 30.980(1), (2) filing his complaint for negligence within the two-year statute of limitations "for injuries to a skier" established by ORS 30.980(3), and (3) "plead[ing] infancy as a defense to [Mt. Bachelor's] First Affirmative Defense on the release executed by [Bagley] while an infant." Additionally, in response to Mt. Bachelor's motion, Bagley alternatively argued that "whether [he] disaffirmed the Release within a reasonable time should be determined by the jury as a question of fact" because a material issue of fact existed as to Bagley's knowledge of both the scope of the release (namely, whether it covered claims for negligence) and "of his right to disaffirm" it (i.e., whether it was voidable). He further argued that the release was contrary to public policy and "both substantively and procedurally unconscionable."
The trial court agreed with Mt. Bachelor, reasoning that Bagley's "use of the pass following his eighteenth birthday constitute[d] an affirmation of the contract and release agreement each time the pass was used, a total of 119 times over a period of 26 different days, up to February 16, 2006[,]" and noting that, "[o]nce there [was] an affirmation, [Bagley could] no longer disaffirm the contract." The court rejected Bagley's public policy and unconscionability arguments, reasoning that "[s]now riding is not such an essential service which requires someone such as [Bagley] to be forced to sign a release in order to obtain the service." Accordingly, having determined that Bagley ratified the release agreement after reaching the age of majority and that "there [was] no basis by which [it could] find the release invalid[,]" the trial court granted summary judgment in Mt. Bachelor's favor and denied Bagley's cross-motion for partial summary judgment. Bagley now appeals, reprising his arguments below.
On appeal, we review the trial court's ruling on summary judgment to determine whether we agree "that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to prevail as a matter of law." ORCP 47 C; see O'Dee v. Tri-County Metropolitan Trans. Dist., 212 Or.App. 456, 460, 157 P.3d 1272 (2007). No genuine issue of material fact exists if, "based upon the record before the court viewed in a manner most favorable to the adverse party, no objectively reasonable juror could return a verdict for the adverse party on the matter that is the subject of the motion for summary judgment." ORCP 47 C.
In his first assignment of error, Bagley asserts that "[t]here is a genuine factual dispute as to whether [his] actions or omissions after reaching the age of majority were enough to disaffirm or affirm the contract he entered with [Mt. Bachelor] when he was a minor." More specifically, Bagley argues that "[a] jury could reasonably infer from the facts that merely turning 18 years old and continuing to snowboard was not conclusive evidence of [his] intent to affirm the release
Mt. Bachelor likewise reprises its arguments below, asserting that Bagley admittedly knew that he was snowboarding under the terms of a release agreement, was aware of the inherent risks of snowboarding (particularly given his advanced, aerial style of snowboarding), and, "[u]nderstanding those risks," made "an informed decision to execute the release agreement" and "an informed decision to honor the agreement after reaching the age of majority because he wanted to snowboard." As noted, Mt. Bachelor points to Bagley's use of the pass after reaching the age of majority — arguing that Bagley ratified the release agreement by riding the lifts "no less than 119 times on 26 days before the subject accident."
In Oregon, a former minor may disaffirm a contract within a "reasonable time" after reaching the age of majority, see Highland v. Tollisen, 75 Or. 578, 587, 147 P. 558 (1915), or, conversely, may ratify a contract after reaching the age of majority by manifesting an intent to let the contract stand, see Haldeman v. Weeks, 90 Or. 201, 205, 175 P. 445 (1918); see also Richard A. Lord, 5 Williston on Contracts § 9:17, 166-70 (4th ed 2009) ("[I]f an infant after reaching the age of majority engages in any conduct that objectively manifests an intent to regard the bargain as binding, the former minor will be held as a matter of law to have ratified the contract."). Further, as particularly relevant here, although what constitutes a reasonable period of time after reaching the age of majority varies widely depending on the circumstances, it is well established that ratification of a voidable contract abolishes a party's power to later disaffirm it. See Brown et ux. v. Hassenstab et ux., 212 Or. 246, 256, 319 P.2d 929 (1957) ("The two courses of action are inconsistent and the taking of one will preclude the other."); Snyder v. Rhoads, 47 Or.App. 545, 553-54, 615 P.2d 1058, rev. den., 290 Or. 157 (1980) (similar).
Applying those principles to these facts, we agree with Mt. Bachelor and conclude that no objectively reasonable juror could find that Bagley disaffirmed the release agreement within a reasonable time after turning 18. Rather, the record gives rise to only one reasonable conclusion: By using the season pass at least 119 times over the course of 26 days between November 18, 2005 and February 16, 2006, Bagley objectively manifested his intent to let the release stand — affirmatively electing to ride the lifts and snowboard under the terms of the agreement (i.e., to accept the benefits of the agreement). His actions after the date of injury — at which time the release had already been ratified and Bagley's power to disaffirm it thereby defeated — are immaterial. Cf. Highland, 75 Or. at 587, 147 P. 558 (former minor's disaffirmance held valid under circumstances where she had neither taken any affirmative action on the contract nor received any benefit from it); see also Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 85 comment b (1981) (power of disaffirmance may be lost, inter alia, "by exercise of dominion over things received"); Lord, 5 Williston on Contracts § 9:17 at 170 ("[I]f the infant after attaining majority voluntarily receives performance in whole or in part from the other party to the contract, this will amount to a ratification.").
Nevertheless, Bagley affirmatively chose to accept the benefits of the agreement after reaching the age of majority and, as noted, continued to do so until the date of injury notwithstanding the pass's and signage's continuing reminders of the existence of the agreement and provision of ample exposure to its terms. The following exchange, which occurred during Bagley's deposition, is particularly illustrative:
Thus, as the trial court correctly reasoned, when Bagley used the season pass 119 times to gain access to Mt. Bachelor's lifts, he objectively manifested his intent to regard the release agreement as binding in order to reap its benefits — thereby ratifying it.
However, although he concedes that he was "aware of the release" and "aware of the inherent risks of his sport[,]" Bagley further argues that he did not know that the agreement released Mt. Bachelor from claims related to its own negligence. Nor, he argues, did he know that he had the power to disaffirm the contract upon turning 18. We conclude that such knowledge was not a necessary prerequisite to ratification and, therefore, that Bagley's arguments as to his subjective understanding of both the release agreement and the law do not affect our determination that "no objectively reasonable juror could [have] return[ed] a verdict for" Bagley on the issue of ratification. ORCP 47 C.
Oregon subscribes to the "objective theory of contracts." Kabil Developments Corp. v. Mignot, 279 Or. 151, 156-57, 566 P.2d 505 (1977) (citation omitted); Newton/Boldt v. Newton, 192 Or.App. 386, 392, 86 P.3d 49, rev. den., 337 Or. 84, 93 P.3d 72 (2004), cert. den., 543 U.S. 1173, 125 S.Ct. 1365, 161 L.Ed.2d 153 (2005). Accordingly, although there is undisputed evidence in the record showing that, after reaching the age of majority, Bagley was exposed to language expressly disclaiming liability for negligence on the part of Mt. Bachelor,
We similarly reject Bagley's argument regarding his lack of knowledge of the power to disaffirm the release agreement upon reaching the age of majority. In raising that issue, Bagley notes that, "[i]n some states, the former infant's knowledge, or lack thereof, of his right to disaffirm a contract may be taken into consideration" in assessing whether there has been a ratification or disaffirmance. (Emphases added.) However, we have previously stated that "[i]gnorance of the law is not a basis for not enforcing a contract." Shea v. Begley, 94 Or.App. 554, 558 n. 3, 766 P.2d 418 (1988), rev. den., 307 Or. 514, 770 P.2d 595 (1989) (citation omitted; emphasis added); see also Walcutt v. Inform Graphics, Inc., 109 Or.App. 148, 152, 817 P.2d 1353 (1991), rev. den., 312 Or. 589, 824 P.2d 418 (1992) (the plaintiff was not entitled to avoid contract due to her and her counsel's "failure to take reasonable measures to inform themselves about her affairs"). Moreover, as Mt. Bachelor correctly points out, Bagley's argument is drawn from the minority view among other jurisdictions. See Lord, 5 Williston on Contracts § 9:17 at 175-77 (former minor's ignorance of legal defense of infancy treated as irrelevant in a majority of those jurisdictions that have considered the issue). As aptly stated by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court,
Campbell v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 307 Pa. 365, 371, 161 A. 310, 312 (1932).
In short, both of Bagley's ancillary arguments are inconsistent with the objective theory of contracts to which Oregon adheres; we look to the parties' objective conduct, and, here, after reaching the age of majority, Bagley objectively manifested his intent to let the contract stand because he "wanted to snowboard[.]"
As noted, in his second assignment of error, Bagley asserts that the release agreement was void as contrary to public policy — focusing primarily on the respective bargaining power of the parties and an asserted "public interest [in] protecting a large number of business invitees, including [Bagley], from the negligence of ski area operators."
Id. at 222, 932 P.2d 92 (emphases added); see generally Young v. Mobil Oil Corp., 85 Or.App. 64, 69, 735 P.2d 654 (1987) ("Oregon requires that a public policy be clear and `overpowering' before a court will interfere with the parties' freedom to contract on the ground of public policy." (Citation omitted.)).
Again, the release agreement provided, as pertinent here:
(Underscoring and capitalization in original; emphasis added.) Although that exculpatory language expressly excludes intentional misconduct from its purview, the same cannot be said with respect to gross negligence or recklessness. However, applying Harmon, because Bagley alleges only ordinary negligence, the failure to expressly exclude gross negligence or recklessness does not render the agreement contrary to public policy "as applied" to the negligence claim in this case. 146 Or.App. at 222, 932 P.2d 92.
Further, in assessing the language of the agreement, our decision in Steele v. Mt. Hood Meadows Oregon, Ltd., 159 Or.App. 272, 974 P.2d 794, rev. den., 329 Or. 10, 994 P.2d 119 (1999), provides substantial guidance. There, the plaintiff in a wrongful death action brought against a ski resort argued that the trial court had erred in granting summary judgment for the ski resort in part because "the terms of the release [were] ambiguous." Id. at 276, 974 P.2d 794. We concluded that the agreement was ambiguous and stated that, "[w]hen one party seeks to contract away liability for its own negligence in advance of any harm, the intent to do so must be `clearly and unequivocally expressed.'" Id. (quoting Estey v. MacKenzie Engineering Inc., 324 Or. 372, 376, 927 P.2d 86 (1996)). We further elaborated:
Id. (citations and internal quotation marks omitted; emphasis added).
We conclude that the release agreement's language "clearly and unequivocally" expressed Mt. Bachelor's intent to disclaim liability for negligence. In reaching that conclusion, considering "the nature of the parties' obligations and the expectations under the contract[,]" id., we note that Bagley admittedly understood that he was engaged in an inherently dangerous activity and that the agreement not only disclaimed liability
Moreover, we have previously emphasized that a release agreement disclaiming liability for negligence does not necessarily offend public policy where it pertains exclusively to "recreational activities," and, most prominently, where the business seeking to relieve itself of such liability does "not provide an essential public service[.]" Mann v. Wetter, 100 Or.App. 184, 187, 187 n. 1, 785 P.2d 1064, rev. den., 309 Or. 645, 789 P.2d 1387 (1990) ("[T]here are no public policy considerations that prevent a diving school from limiting liability for its own negligence. The diving school does not provide an essential public service[.]"). A ski resort, like a diving school, primarily offers "recreational activities" (with possible exceptions that do not apply here, e.g., training for search-and-rescue personnel) and does not provide an "essential public service[.]" Id.
Thus, bearing in mind the principles set forth in Mann and the recreational context of this particular case,
Finally, we reject Bagley's third assignment of error, in which, as noted, he asserts that the release agreement was both procedurally and substantively unconscionable. At the outset, we emphasize the substantive rigor historically applied by Oregon courts in assessing claims of unconscionability:
Hatkoff v. Portland Adventist Medical Center, 252 Or.App. 210, 217, 287 P.3d 1113 (2012) (quoting Motsinger v. Lithia Rose-FT, Inc., 211 Or.App. 610, 626-27, 156 P.3d 156 (2007)) (emphasis in Motsinger). Further, "each case is decided on its own unique facts[,]" Vasquez-Lopez v. Beneficial Oregon, Inc., 210 Or.App. 553, 567, 152 P.3d 940 (2007), taking into account both the terms of the contract and the circumstances existing when the contract was signed.
In assessing Bagley's claim of procedural unconscionability, we focus on "the conditions of contract formation" and look to "two factors: oppression and surprise." Id. at 566-67, 152 P.3d 940 (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). More specifically, "[o]ppression arises from an inequality of bargaining power which results in no real negotiation and an absence of meaningful
As noted, we do not find the release agreement procedurally unconscionable under these circumstances. Although the parties indeed came to the bargaining table with unequal power insofar as Mt. Bachelor required that the release be signed in order to allow Bagley to purchase a season pass, we have, albeit in dictum and in the context of addressing public-policy arguments, suggested that standard-form release agreements in the context of recreational activities are not impermissibly adhesive. See Harmon, 146 Or.App. at 219 n. 4, 932 P.2d 92 (citing cases from other jurisdictions and noting their holdings "that exculpatory provisions in ski-related form agreements were not impermissibly adhesive"); Mann, 100 Or.App. at 187-88, 785 P.2d 1064 (noting that "customers have a multitude of alternatives" in dealing with providers of "non-essential service[s,]" even where such providers hold an "economic advantage").
Here, with respect to "oppression," Bagley was free to choose not to snowboard at Mt. Bachelor, was less than two weeks short of the age of majority when he signed the agreement, was an experienced snowboarder who had previously signed release agreements required by at least two other ski resorts, had signed a release agreement in obtaining a season pass at Mt. Bachelor during each of the preceding three years, and was accompanied by his father (who, as noted, signed a nearly identical agreement disclaiming liability for negligence). Each of those facts contributes to our conclusion that, notwithstanding the parties' unequal bargaining power, the circumstances of contract formation were not impermissibly oppressive. Bagley and his father were presented with a "meaningful choice[,]" Vasquez-Lopez, 210 Or.App. at 566, 152 P.3d 940, particularly given that, as noted, snowboarding is a recreational activity and Bagley could have simply declined to sign the release without being denied access to an essential public service.
With respect to "surprise," as evidenced by the unambiguous language of the release agreement, and particularly given its additional clarification after disclaiming liability for negligence ("THE ONLY CLAIMS NOT RELEASED ARE THOSE BASED UPON INTENTIONAL MISCONDUCT"), this was not a situation where the "terms of the bargain [were] hidden" by Mt. Bachelor. Id. To the contrary, the above-quoted paragraph pertaining to the skier's release of claims, including claims for negligence, appeared at the beginning of the release agreement and was highlighted by a centered and underlined introductory heading drawing the skier's attention to the fact that he or she was signing a release ("RELEASE AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT"). On those facts, we find no indication of surprise and, coupled with our conclusion above as to oppression, cannot say that the release agreement was procedurally unconscionable.
In further arguing that the release agreement was substantively unconscionable, Bagley asserts that "[t]he Release term of the contract in question is unreasonably
On these facts, the provision in the release agreement disclaiming liability for negligence was not "unreasonably" favorable to Mt. Bachelor. Carey, 203 Or.App. at 422, 125 P.3d 814. Indeed, the principal Oregon case touching on the issue upheld a provision — albeit on an "as applied" basis in the context of that particular plaintiff's public-policy argument — that not only disclaimed liability for negligence in connection with skiing but for "any and all liability" (presumably including liability related to gross negligence or intentional misconduct on the part of the ski resort). Harmon, 146 Or.App. at 217-22, 932 P.2d 92 (emphasis added). Moreover, as noted, in Harmon we specifically cited cases from other jurisdictions "holding that exculpatory provisions in ski-related form agreements were not impermissibly adhesive." Id. at 219 n. 4, 932 P.2d 92. Returning to the overarching notion that the terms at issue must be read in light of their recreational context, in one of those cases, the New Jersey Superior Court aptly reasoned as follows:
McBride v. Minstar, Inc., 283 N.J.Super. 471, 491, 662 A.2d 592, 602 (1994), aff'd sub nom. McBride v. Raichle Molitor, USA, 283 N.J.Super. 422, 662 A.2d 567 (N.J.Super.Ct.App.Div.), rev. den., 143 N.J. 319, 670 A.2d 1061 (1995) (emphasis in original). As noted, similar release agreements in the context of recreational activities have been upheld (including against claims of unconscionability) in a number of other jurisdictions. See 258 Or.App. at 408 n. 9, 310 P.3d at 703 n. 9. Finally, ORS 105.682 establishes a public policy in favor of indemnification of landowners where the land is used for, inter alia, recreational purposes. We fail to see how a private contract to the same effect is substantively unfair as a matter of law.
Accordingly, given existing case law and the aforementioned substantive rigor that we apply in assessing claims of unconscionability, see Hatkoff, 252 Or.App. at 217, 287 P.3d 1113, we conclude that the terms of Mt. Bachelor's release were not substantively unconscionable under these circumstances. That is, the inclusion of the release provision did not constitute one of "those rare instances" where the terms of the contract were so "unreasonably favorable" to Mt. Bachelor that they were unconscionable. Id. (emphasis in original); see also Restatement at § 208 comment b (a contract has traditionally been held unconscionable only where "it was such as no man in his senses and not under delusion would make" (citations and internal quotation marks omitted)).
In sum, we conclude that Bagley ratified the release agreement prior to the date of injury, nullifying his power to later disaffirm it (whether by notice, filing suit, or pleading infancy), and that the agreement — coupled with the language printed on the season pass and signage at the lift terminals — was sufficiently clear as to its application to claims for negligence. We further conclude that Bagley's lack of knowledge regarding the scope of the unambiguous agreements did not preclude
Affirmed.
(Emphasis added.)