Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Tuesday January 12th, and we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Join us daily for an in-depth look at one of our top stories. 

Today - A Colorado Court of Appeals decision rules that waivers -- the tiny print on the back of lift tickets and season passes -- immunize resorts from liability for injury. So why do we need the Ski Safety Act and Passenger Tramway Safety Board? 

Before we begin, let’s take a look at what happened on this day in Colorado history - adapted from Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

Today, we take you back to January 12th, 1981 when Dynasty premiered on ABC. The premise centered on the travails of a wealthy oil brood. The opening credits included a montage of Colorado landscapes, oil fields, and the Denver skyline.

Now, our feature story. 

Over the years, several ski states and federal courts have grappled with the balance of waivers and ski safety statutes that detail the responsibilities of skiers and resorts. Legislation, like Colorado’s Ski Safety Act, is designed to divide the responsibility for safety on the slopes between skiers and operators. 

But last week, A Colorado Court of Appeals panel delivered the first state appellate decision affirming the use of waivers to protect ski resorts from lawsuits filed by injured skiers. 

Colorado Sun reporter Jason Blevins is joining us today to tell us more about the decision. 

Jason, thanks so much for your time. So, a three judge Colorado court of appeals panel recently ruled, in a 2 to 1 decision, on these waivers. Can you start with talking about the details about that decision?

Jim Chalat, an attorney who has represented many injured skiers in lawsuits against ski resorts, has railed against ski resort waivers for years and sees the state appeals court ruling last week as rendering the Ski Safety Act “dead letter,” which means it is no longer enforceable. 

He says that “The ski area operators in Colorado comprise a very well-connected and well-lobbied industry group which will oppose any effort at the legislature to write an amendment to the Ski Safety Act that says the duties set out wherein may not be excluded by a waiver. Who knows what industry is next, but there will certainly be more.”

Thanks for listening. Before we go here are a few stories you should know about today:

Colorado’s legislators will have the option to get both doses of a coronavirus vaccine by February 16. Lead Democrats argued that getting back to lawmaking is critical, but some Republicans are critical of the plan, saying that lawmakers are jumping ahead of other Coloradans. The legislature is expected to open its 2021 session on Wednesday with three days of work before taking a prolonged recess until mid-February.

The Colorado Supreme Court issued three rulings Monday that modernize the definition of common-law marriage. The court added more potential criteria to determine whether or not a relationship is a common-law marriage, with an emphasis on the consent of the people involved. It also broadens common-law marriages to LGBTQ+ couples by removing gender-specific language. The last time common-law marriages were ruled on in Colorado to this degree was in 1987.

Colorado will change its coronavirus dial system this spring once most people over 70 and older are vaccinated. Governor Jared Polis told The Colorado Sun that once the most vulnerable in the state are vaccinated, the state will try to alleviate restrictions more while still keeping hospital capacity in check. Older people account for a large part of the state’s COVID-19 hospitalizations and most of the associated deaths.

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. Now, a quick message from our editor.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It&rsquo;s Tuesday January 12th, and we&rsquo;re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Join us daily for an in-depth look at one of our top stories.&nbsp;
Today - A Colorado Court of Appeals decision rules that waivers -- the tiny print on the back of lift tickets and season passes -- immunize resorts from liability for injury. So why do we need the Ski Safety Act and Passenger Tramway Safety Board?&nbsp;
Before we begin, let&rsquo;s take a look at what happened on this day in Colorado history - adapted from Derek R Everett&rsquo;s book &ldquo;Colorado Day by Day&rdquo;:
Today, we take you back to January 12th, 1981 when Dynasty premiered on ABC. The premise centered on the travails of a wealthy oil brood. The opening credits included a montage of Colorado landscapes, oil fields, and the Denver skyline.
Now, our feature story.&nbsp;
Over the years, several ski states and federal courts have grappled with the balance of waivers and ski safety statutes that detail the responsibilities of skiers and resorts. Legislation, like Colorado&rsquo;s Ski Safety Act, is designed to divide the responsibility for safety on the slopes between skiers and operators.&nbsp;
But last week, A Colorado Court of Appeals panel delivered the first state appellate decision affirming the use of waivers to protect ski resorts from lawsuits filed by injured skiers.&nbsp;
Colorado Sun reporter <a href="mailto:jason@coloradosun.com">Jason Blevins</a> is joining us today to tell us more about the decision.&nbsp;
Jason, thanks so much for your time. So, a three judge Colorado court of appeals panel recently ruled, in a 2 to 1 decision, on these waivers. Can you start with talking about the details about that decision?
Jim Chalat, an attorney who has represented many injured skiers in lawsuits against ski resorts, has railed against ski resort waivers for years and sees the state appeals court ruling last week as rendering the Ski Safety Act &ldquo;dead letter,&rdquo; which means it is no longer enforceable.&nbsp;
He says that &ldquo;The ski area operators in Colorado comprise a very well-connected and well-lobbied industry group which will oppose any effort at the legislature to write an amendment to the Ski Safety Act that says the duties set out wherein may not be excluded by a waiver. Who knows what industry is next, but there will certainly be more.&rdquo;
Thanks for listening. Before we go here are a few stories you should know about today:
Colorado&rsquo;s legislators will have the option to get both doses of a coronavirus vaccine by February 16. Lead Democrats argued that getting back to lawmaking is critical, but some Republicans are critical of the plan, saying that lawmakers are jumping ahead of other Coloradans. The legislature is expected to open its 2021 session on Wednesday with three days of work before taking a prolonged recess until mid-February.
The Colorado Supreme Court issued three rulings Monday that modernize the definition of common-law marriage. The court added more potential criteria to determine whether or not a relationship is a common-law marriage, with an emphasis on the consent of the people involved. It also broadens common-law marriages to LGBTQ+ couples by removing gender-specific language. The last time common-law marriages were ruled on in Colorado to this degree was in 1987.
Colorado will change its coronavirus dial system this spring once most people over 70 and older are vaccinated. Governor Jared Polis told The Colorado Sun that once the most vulnerable in the state are vaccinated, the state will try to alleviate restrictions more while still keeping hospital capacity in check. Older people account for a large part of the state&rsquo;s COVID-19 hospitalizations and most of the associated deaths.
For more information on all of these stories, visit our website,<a href="http://www.coloradosun.com/"> www.coloradosun.com</a>. Now, a quick message from our editor.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at https://coloradosun.com/.

The Daily Sun-Up

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at https://coloradosun.com/.

Our intro music is by Matt Skellenger Group: https://mattskellenger.bandcamp.com/album/subspace-transmission 

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we&rsquo;re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at <a href="https://coloradosun.com/">https://coloradosun.com/</a>.
Our intro music is by Matt Skellenger Group: <a href="https://mattskellenger.bandcamp.com/album/subspace-transmission">https://mattskellenger.bandcamp.com/album/subspace-transmission</a>&nbsp;