Well, it is true that ski resorts are fun places, but while skiing, there are risks involved too, sometimes because of the negligence of the skier and sometimes because of the negligence of the ski resort itself. That is pretty much what we’re seeing with this Hoodoo Ski Area lawsuit as well. See, in this ski resort, a family has filed this lawsuit claiming that it was the negligence of the resort that has now led to their 4-year-old daughter getting seriously injured, so much so that she has undergone surgeries as well. So, if you don’t know the details of this case yet, just keep on reading what the matter is really about and why the family is demanding $4.6 million in damages. Here we go.
What Happened on March 7, 2025?
On the 7th of March, she was skiing with her mom, brother, and their friends on a beginner run called Blue Valley, situated adjacent to the terrain park. Generally, there is a rope to separate these two areas for safety reasons. However, about 30 minutes before the lifts were scheduled to close, it is reported that resort staff took the rope down.
The girl lost a ski, having hit a jump, and she stopped down below to fix it. At almost that precise moment, an adult skier took off from a nearby jump in their ski track. He landed directly on her. Family members tried to warn him, but he could not heed them.
The Extent of Her Injuries
The impact left the girl with severe injuries:
- A concussion
- A spiral fracture in her femur
- A broken arm
- Knee damage, including a partial ACL tear
- Multiple other fractures
There have been operations performed on her, and she may have to undergo more surgical procedures. The medical expenses already run into hundreds of thousands, and the family indicates that her life has been forever altered.
What Does the Lawsuit Claim?
The family filed the lawsuit in Linn County Circuit Court on September 3, 2025. They argue Hoodoo was at fault for several reasons:
- Unsafe design of the terrain park.
- Failure to maintain barriers and warning signs.
- Removing the safety ropes too early.
- Not warning skiers about the risks.
As strange as it sounds, the ones under suit are not the skier who collided with the girl. The lawyer says he was not familiar with the layout of Hoodoo, and also that if the ropes had been left up until closing time, the accident could have been avoided.
Why It Matters for Oregon’s Ski Industry
This case highlights a bigger problem for ski resorts in Oregon. Back in 2014, the Oregon Supreme Court had held that liability waivers were not enforceable (those signed before skiing). Since then, lawsuits have been more common against ski resorts.
For Hoodoo specifically:
- They have faced 5 lawsuits since 2014, compared to only 2 in the previous 15 years.
- Insurance costs for resorts have skyrocketed.
- One major insurer left Oregon in 2025, leaving only one provider for ski resorts statewide.
Without cheap insurance, ski resorts risk being shut down. Lawmakers have tried repeatedly to reinstate the waivers (most recently in 2025), but all such attempts have failed.
Reactions and Wider Impact
Ski resort operators warn that the rising lawsuits and insurance costs could threaten their very existence. Families and attorneys, meanwhile, view lawsuits as necessary to keep resorts in check so that injured parties do not end up with enormous medical bills.
Totally, the case affects more than just ski areas. In Oregon, recreational operations like trampoline parks and climbing gyms become increasingly vulnerable to lawsuits when compared to the operators in other states.
No wonder this case is attracting close scrutiny from Hoodoo, Ski Enterprises, and the other resorts, associations, and insurance companies. It may well set the agenda for Oregon’s ski businesses in regard to liability and safety.