Ranchers, guides ask lawmakers for immunity from legal action

By Cy Ryan

Thursday, March 3, 2011 | 11:38 a.m.

CARSON CITY – An Assembly committee was told today that ranchers, guides and rodeo operators should be granted immunity from a lawsuit if an individual is injured while riding on a horse through no fault of the employee.

Assemblyman Peter Goicoechea, a rancher from Eureka, told the Assembly Judiciary Committee there should be protection from frivolous suits, but the rancher or guide should be held liable if he or she was negligent.

Bill Bradley, a Reno lawyer, said Assembly Bill 140 creates immunity and that an individual couldn't sue. He said a judge and a jury should decide if the act was negligent.

Goicoechea, a Republican, and Bradley both said they couldn't think of any such suits in which an inexperienced rider was bucked off a horse.

There were also arguments over whether spectators who were injured by a horse during a parade would be barred from filing suit. Bradley said the bill would grant immunity for owners to be personally responsible in such hypothetical cases.

Ranchers, farmers and guides said their insurance rates have gone up without such protection, which is afforded in 46 other states.

Walt Gardner, a rancher and outfitter, told the committee he was informed that his insurance rate would drop if Nevada adopted such a law that he said would apply to rodeos and fairs.

Bradley said the bill wouldn't only apply to people injured on horses, but also injuries from goats and donkeys. He said a jury and judge would determine if there was negligence on the part of the owners.

The committee didn't take action on the bill.