In this published opinion, the Court of Appeal allows a plaintiff to seek punitive damages for injuries he sustained in a recreational hockey game when he was violently checked by another player.

Ordinarily, under the primary assumption of risk doctrine, a participant in a sporting event cannot sue another participant for an injury that results from the inherent risks of the sport.  The trial court applied that doctrine here and granted the defendant’s motion for summary judgment.  The trial court noted that, although the plaintiff was participating in a “no check” hockey league, the parties’ witnesses agreed that “no check” does not mean “no contact,” and that being checked is still an inherent risk of playing “no-check” hockey. 

The Court of Appeal (First District, Division Two) reversed the judgment and reinstated all of the plaintiff’s claims, including his claim for punitive damages.  The court held that the primary assumption of risk doctrine does not apply when the defendant intentionally injures the plaintiff.  The court pointed to testimony from plaintiff’s teammates, who said it appeared that the defendant in this case was intentionally trying to injure the plaintiff, rather than trying to make any legitimate hockey play.  According to the court, a jury could rely on that testimony and find that the defendant intended to harm the plaintiff, which would not only permit the plaintiff to recover compensatory damages, but would potentially support an award of punitive damages as well.

Presumably, plaintiffs’ counsel will use this opinion as a template to pursue punitive damages for in-game collisions in other contact sports, and will oppose summary judgment motions with declarations by eyewitnesses who testify that the defendant appeared to have an intent to injure.