THUMMA, Judge:
¶ 1 Elizabeth Boisson appeals from a judgment dismissing a wrongful death negligence claim arising out of the death of her son Morgan Boisson. The judgment was based on the ground that Defendants owed no duty to Morgan when, while studying abroad in China, he traveled to Tibet and died of altitude sickness. Finding no error, this court affirms.
¶ 2 Morgan was an undergraduate student at the University of Arizona, which is governed by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). In the fall of 2009, Morgan and 16 other university students spent the semester studying in China at Nanjing American University (NAU). This study-abroad program, sometimes referred to as Yangtze International Study Abroad (YISA), was a collaborative effort between ABOR and NAU.
¶ 3 While in China, the study-abroad program included school-sponsored trips to various cities in China with NAU faculty. At other times, the students organized their own trips. During a student-organized trip, 14 study abroad students — including Morgan — flew to Lhasa, Tibet. The students then drove to the Mount Everest base camp a few days later. While at base camp, which is approximately 18,000 feet above sea level, Morgan developed and then died of altitude sickness.
¶ 4 As relevant here, Elizabeth filed a complaint against the State of Arizona, ABOR and NAU (collectively Defendants), asserting a wrongful death negligence claim pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) sections 12-611 to -613 (2015).
¶ 5 Although described in various ways, a plaintiff alleging a claim for negligence under Arizona common law has the burden to show: (1) duty; (2) breach of that duty; (3) cause-in-fact; (4) legal (or proximate) causation and (5) resulting damages. See, e.g., Gipson v. Kasey, 214 Ariz. 141, 143 ¶ 9, 150 P.3d 228, 230 (2007); Ontiveros v. Borak, 136 Ariz. 500, 504, 667 P.2d 200, 204 (1983); Wisener v. State, 123 Ariz. 148, 149, 598 P.2d 511, 512 (1979). "The first element, whether a duty exists, is a matter of law for the court to decide." Gipson, 214 Ariz. at 143 ¶ 9, 150 P.3d at 230 (citation omitted).
Gipson, 214 Ariz. at 143-44 ¶¶ 10-11, 150 P.3d at 230-31 (citations omitted).
¶ 6 As noted by the Arizona Supreme Court, pre-2007 case law addressing duty "created `some confusion and lack of clarity... as to what extent, if any, foreseeability issues bear on the initial legal determination of duty.'" Gipson, 214 Ariz. at 144 ¶ 15, 150 P.3d at 231 (citation omitted). Gipson, however, expressly held "that foreseeability is not a factor to be considered by courts when making determinations of duty, and we reject any contrary suggestion in prior opinions." 214 Ariz. at 144 ¶ 15, 150 P.3d at 231. Accordingly, foreseeability is not a part of the duty inquiry and those portions of pre-Gipson cases relying on foreseeability when addressing the issue are no longer valid.
¶ 7 Although a duty can arise in various ways, Elizabeth argues: (1) the student-school relationship imposes a duty on Defendants here and (2) public policy imposes such a duty. Recognizing the concept of duty is context dependent, Gipson indicates that duty may arise from the relationship between the parties or, alternatively, from public policy considerations. Gipson, 214 Ariz. at 145 ¶ 18, ¶ 23, 150 P.3d at 232; accord Monroe v. Basis School, Inc., 234 Ariz. 155, 157 ¶ 5, 159 ¶ 12, 318 P.3d 871, 873, 875 (App.2014); see also Randolph v. Ariz. Bd. of Regents, 19 Ariz.App. 121, 123, 505 P.2d 559, 561 (App. 1973) ("No better general statement can be made, than that the courts will find a duty where, in general, reasonable men would recognize it and agree that it exists.").
¶ 8 "The student-school relationship is one that can impose a duty within the context of the relationship." Monroe, 234 Ariz. at 157 ¶ 5, 318 P.3d at 873. Arizona case law shows the duty most clearly applies in on-campus activities in the primary and secondary school context, where the relationship is custodial. Monroe, 234 Ariz. at 158 ¶ 9, 318 P.3d at 874. Arizona case law is less clear whether and to what extent the duty applies in off-campus activities in the primary and secondary school context. See Alhambra Sch. Dist. v. Superior Court, 165 Ariz. 38, 41-42, 796 P.2d 470, 473-74 (1990) (holding school district owed duty to high school student injured in elementary school-created crosswalk); Collette v. Tolleson Unified Sch. Dist., No. 214, 203 Ariz. 359, 54 P.3d 828 (App.2002) (holding school owed no
¶ 9 In the college and university context, courts in other jurisdictions "are split on whether a college owes an affirmative duty to its students." Restatement (Third) of Torts: Physical and Emotional Harm § 40 Reporters' Notes cmt. 1 (2012) (Restatement) (citing cases). Arizona case law, however, indicates a college or university does owe its students a duty of reasonable care for on-campus activities. See Jesik v. Maricopa Cnty. Cmty. Coll. Dist., 125 Ariz. 543, 611 P.2d 547 (1980); see also Delbridge v. Maricopa Cnty. Cmty. Coll. Dist., 182 Ariz. 55, 58-59, 893 P.2d 55, 58-59 (App.1994) (holding college owed duty to student for injury incurred during college class, even though college did "not have a permanent campus"). It is undisputed that the Tibet trip was not an on-campus activity.
¶ 10 The parties have cited, and the court has found, no Arizona case addressing whether a college or university owes its students a duty of reasonable care for off-campus activities. Section 40(b)(5) of the Restatement, applied by the Arizona Supreme Court in a different context, imposes a "duty of reasonable care with regard to risks that arise within the scope of the relationship" for "a school with its students." Restatement § 40(a), (b)(5).
¶ 11 Recognizing that the existence of duty is a legal, not a factual, matter, Gipson cautioned against "a fact-specific analysis of the relationship between the parties" in determining whether a duty of care exists. Gipson, 214 Ariz. at 145 ¶ 21, 150 P.3d at 232 (considering whether duty existed in a case not involving a categorical relationship). Accordingly, this court does not look at "the parties' actions" alleged to determine "if a duty exists." Id. at 145 ¶ 21, 150 P.3d at 232. Instead, this court looks to the legal factors identified elsewhere to determine whether the Tibet trip was an off-campus school activity for which Defendants owed Morgan a duty of reasonable care. See Barkhurst v. Kingsmen of Route 66, Inc., 234 Ariz. 470, 472-75 ¶¶ 10-18, 323 P.3d 753, 755-58 (App. 2014) (citing cases); Wickham v. Hopkins, 226 Ariz. 468, 471-73 ¶¶ 13-23, 250 P.3d 245, 248-50 (App.2011) (citing cases); see also Monroe, 234 Ariz. at 157-59 ¶¶ 5-11, 318 P.3d at 873-75.
¶ 12 In the college and university setting, duty is not governed by custody or in loco parentis concepts. Delbridge, 182 Ariz. at 59, 893 P.2d at 59; see also Randolph v. Ariz. Bd. of Regents, 19 Ariz.App. 121, 123, 505 P.2d 559, 561 (App.1973) ("There comes a time when an individual must take it upon himself to be responsible for his own education and well-being. No person can be insulated against all the risks of living."). Similarly, "[t]he scope of the duty imposed by the student-school relationship is not limitless." Monroe, 234 Ariz. at 157 ¶ 6, 318 P.3d at 873. "[T]he duty is tied to expected activities within the relationship. Therefore, in the student-school relationship, the duty of care is bounded by geography and time, encompassing risks such as those that occur while the student is at school or otherwise under the school's control." Id. at
¶ 13 In what are at best analogous contexts, Arizona cases have identified the following factors in determining whether an off-campus activity is deemed a school activity: (1) the purpose of the activity, Collette, 203 Ariz. at 363 ¶ 16, 54 P.3d at 832; (2) whether the activity was part of the course curriculum, Delbridge, 182 Ariz. at 59, 893 P.2d at 59; (3) whether the school had supervisory authority and responsibility during the activity, id.; Monroe, 234 Ariz. at 161 ¶ 18, 318 P.3d at 877; and (4) whether the risk students were exposed to during the activity was independent of school involvement, Collette, 203 Ariz. at 365 ¶ 23, 54 P.3d at 834. Courts elsewhere also have looked at whether (5) the activity was voluntary or was a required school activity; (6) whether a school employee was present at or participated in the activity or was expected to do so and (7) whether the activity involved a dangerous project initiated at school but built off campus. See 5 James A. Rapp & Jonathan M. Astroth, Education Law § 12.09[6][c] (2014) (citing cases).
¶ 14 Applying these factors, the Tibet trip was conceived by exchange students who wanted to see Mount Everest, not for any NAU-related purpose. After doing some research, a student made arrangements directly with Tibettours, a Tibet-based tour company, which then set the itinerary, arranged trip details and served as a guide during the trip. Fourteen of the 17 study abroad students then went on the trip and paid Tibettours directly, or through the coordinating students. The trip, details of the trip and the cost of the trip were not part of the study-abroad program or any course curriculum, and no academic credit was awarded for the trip. At the students' request, NAU student liaison Zhang Fan helped the students communicate with Tibettours and arrange flights, and also provided a letter, required by the Chinese government to secure required permits, stating the students were NAU students. At the students' request, the professors agreed to allow the students to make up classes they missed if they participated in the trip. Defendants had no supervisory authority over, or responsibility for, the trip, and no faculty or staff went on the trip. The risk of altitude sickness was present independent of any involvement by Defendants and the trip did not involve a potentially dangerous project initiated at school but built off campus. Accordingly, applying these factors, the Tibet trip was not an off-campus school activity for which Defendants owed Morgan a duty under Arizona law. See Monroe, 234 Ariz. at 159 ¶ 11, 318 P.3d at 875; Collette, 203 Ariz. at 363 ¶ 16, 54 P.3d at 832; Delbridge, 182 Ariz. at 59, 893 P.2d at 59; see also Rapp & Astroth, Education Law § 12.09[6][c] (citing cases).
¶ 15 Elizabeth argues that the Tibet trip was a school activity because: (1) Defendants "knew that study-abroad programs pose dangers," and issued students cell phones to "safeguard ... [them] during their study-abroad program;" (2) 14 of the 17 exchange students participated in the trip; (3) Defendants let students make up the classes they missed during the trip and (4) the trip would not have been possible without Fan's assistance.
¶ 16 Defendants' purported knowledge that participating in the study-abroad program would involve "risks not found in study at" the University of Arizona in Tucson does not help answer whether the trip was a school activity. See Gipson, 214 Ariz. at 144 ¶ 15, 150 P.3d at 231 (rejecting foreseeability as factor in determining duty). Similarly, providing the students cell phones "with which they can contact faculty and staff to answer questions and solve problems day or night from any part of China" does not make the Tibet trip a school activity. And although many study-abroad students decided to go on the trip, some did not. Allowing
¶ 17 Nor does Elizabeth's reliance on 2007 and 2009 YISA brochures and an affiliation agreement between YISA and the University of Arizona alter the analysis. The substance of the 2009 brochure is not contained in the record. The description attributed to the brochure ("Additional Travel Opportunities," noting "that students in past programs had visited Tibet") does not make the trip here a school activity. Presuming the 2007 brochure applied to the Fall 2009 program, that document states: (1) "[i]ncluded in your program fee will be trips to important cities or sites in China;" (2) in addition, "students will have a week or more of time off to travel on their own" and (3) "[o]ur staff will help with all aspects of planning these trips throughout China." That Defendants may have helped students plan "travel on their own" does not impose on Defendants a duty for the student-planned Tibet trip. Similarly, YISA agreeing to provide "student support services — translation assistance, travel planning, and emergency assistance" — does not impose upon Defendants a duty to protect students from harms in the student-planned Tibet trip.
¶ 18 Elizabeth also argues on appeal that selected excerpts from ABOR's internal code of conduct mean the Tibet trip was a school activity. Although Elizabeth cited this document in superior court to show that the exchange program was an ABOR-sponsored activity, she did not argue it established a duty. By not pressing that argument then, Elizabeth cannot do so now. See Fisher v. Edgerton, 236 Ariz. 71, 75 n. 2 ¶ 9, 336 P.3d 167, 171 n. 2 (App.2014).
¶ 19 Finally, Elizabeth relies on the opinions of Dr. William W. Hoffa, her "standard of care" expert, who took the position that study-abroad programs should categorically owe a duty to students throughout all aspects of the program. But the question of whether a duty exists is an issue of law for the court to decide, not experts. Badia v. City of Casa Grande, 195 Ariz. 349, 354 ¶ 17, 988 P.2d 134, 139 (App.1999) ("The issue of whether a duty exists is a question of law for the court, unaffected by expert opinion."); see also Monroe, 234 Ariz. at 157 ¶ 4, 318 P.3d at 873 (existence of duty "is a matter of law for the court to decide") (citing Gipson, 214 Ariz. at 143 ¶ 9, 150 P.3d at 230). Moreover, as Elizabeth concedes, Dr. Hoffa's testimony goes to the standard of care and other issues that are premised on the existence of a duty. See Gipson, 214 Ariz. at 143-44 ¶¶ 10-11, 150 P.3d at 230-31 (citations omitted). Accordingly, Dr. Hoffa's opinions do not resolve the question of whether a duty exists.
¶ 21 In discussing whether public policy should recognize a duty here, Elizabeth
Monroe, 234 Ariz. at 161 ¶ 20, 318 P.3d at 877. For these reasons, Elizabeth has not shown that public policy considerations result in Defendants owing Morgan a duty for the Tibet trip.
¶ 22 Having found Defendants did not owe Morgan a duty for the Tibet trip, this court affirms the judgment and need not address the other issues raised on appeal. ABOR's request for taxable costs on appeal is granted contingent upon its compliance with Arizona Rule of Civil Appellate Procedure 21.
¶ 23 The judgment in favor of Defendants is affirmed.