Ellison: sledding accident ruling should have no impact on cities

Gering City Attorney Jim Ellison says a Nebraska Supreme Court ruling in a sledding accident case should not have any impact on banning the activity in city parks, especially Northfield Park.

The court ruled in a case involving a December 2000 crash in eastern Nebraska that seriously injured two girls when they stuck a crabapple tree planted by city workers.

Ellison says passage in 2008 of a modified Recreation and Liability Act to address such situations should keep municipalities from being hurt from most sledding or other accidents on city property.

Ellison also said the accident pre-dates the new law, and the ruling was tailored to the specific facts involved in that case. The family's lawyer says the city had ample evidence that the trees posed a danger.