Perkins v. General Motors, LLC

**What Happened** A worker at Bear Valley Ski Company sued their employer for negligence and wrongful termination. The case went to trial, where a jury heard evidence about the worker's claims that the ski resort was negligent in its operations and wrongfully fired them. **What the Court Decided** An appeals court threw out the original trial's verdict and ordered a new trial. The appeals court found that the trial judge made a serious error by not properly explaining to the jury how "assumption of risk" laws work in ski resort cases. These laws determine when workers or customers accept certain dangers as part of skiing activities versus when the resort is responsible for unsafe conditions. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case shows that even when workers lose at trial, they can still appeal if the judge made legal errors. For workers at ski resorts and similar recreational businesses, the case highlights the complex rules about when employers are responsible for workplace injuries versus when workers are expected to accept certain job-related risks. The new trial gives this worker another chance to prove their case with proper jury instructions.