As we draw up a liability waiver, do we need to have an attorney in our state look at it to make sure it is okay, or are they generally pretty generic forms? It seems those I have filled out in the past were basically the same, with just a few minor changes to make it appropriate for the group and/or event. Judy K. (Tennessee)
Carol Topp, CPA
Why have a liability waiver? Your article makes it sound like they can’t be enforced, so what is their purpose and what do they protect your group from?
Ask I wrote in the blog post,
The best information on using liability waivers I heard came from TJ Schmidt, an attorney with Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). He explained that waivers may deter people from suing you. A member may think twice about filing a lawsuit because he or she remembered signing a liability waiver. That may be why insurance companies require waivers; they cut down on claims and lawsuits.
Carol Topp, CPA