The Hoodoo Ski Area lawsuit is a $4.6 million negligence case filed on behalf of a young girl hurt in a terrain park collision. It’s not a class action, but it’s become a symbol of Oregon’s growing ski liability crisis.
Here’s the number that stops people cold. Hoodoo had been sued only twice in the decade before a key 2014 court ruling, and five times since.
This guide walks through the accident, the legal claims, Hoodoo’s court history, and why Oregon resorts keep ending up in front of a jury.
We’ll also cover the state law change that made all of this possible in the first place.
Related: Austin Weaver Lawsuit 2026: Case Updates and Key Details
What Is the Hoodoo Ski Area Lawsuit
The Hoodoo Ski Area lawsuit is a personal injury negligence case filed against Hoodoo Ski Bowl Developers Inc, the company that owns and operates Hoodoo Ski Area near Sisters, Oregon. It centers on a 2021 collision inside the resort’s terrain park.
The suit accuses Hoodoo of removing a safety barrier too early, allowing a dangerous collision to happen.
A young girl suffered a concussion and multiple broken bones as a result.
Quick Facts
- Defendant: Hoodoo Ski Bowl Developers Inc, doing business as Hoodoo Ski Area
- Filed in: Linn County Circuit Court, Oregon
- Amount sought: $4,685,000
- Filed by: Johnson Johnson Lucas and Middleton P.C.
This is a single family’s case, not a broader claim covering other guests or skiers who visited the resort.
Who Filed the Lawsuit Against Hoodoo Ski Area
Amanda Walkup filed the lawsuit as guardian ad litem on behalf of her daughter, identified in court records only by the initials C.N. She’s a minor, and courts commonly use initials to protect a child’s identity in these filings.
The family is from Eugene, Oregon.
Attorney Scott Lucas of Johnson Johnson Lucas and Middleton represents them, and the firm requested a jury trial rather than arbitration.
Who’s involved:
- Plaintiff’s guardian: Amanda Walkup
- Injured child: identified as C.N. in court filings
- Law firm: Johnson Johnson Lucas and Middleton P.C., based in Eugene
- Defendant: Hoodoo Ski Bowl Developers Inc
Notably, the family chose not to sue the adult skier who caused the collision, arguing that skier wasn’t familiar with how Hoodoo’s terrain park was laid out.
What Happened in the Hoodoo Ski Area Accident
The accident happened on March 7, 2021, when a four-year-old girl was struck by an adult skier inside Hoodoo’s terrain park. She had already logged around 30 days of skiing that season, according to the complaint.
She was skiing near the Blue Valley beginner run, close to the terrain park entrance.
After falling below one of the park’s jumps, she couldn’t get up in time before another skier launched off the same jump and landed directly on her.
Sequence of events:
- The girl fell at the base of a terrain park jump
- An adult skier entered the terrain park from the side of the run, not the designated top entrance
- Companions yelled for the skier to stop, but she didn’t hear them
- The skier went off the jump and landed on the girl, causing serious injury
That’s the kind of accident that sounds almost impossible until you realize the safety rope meant to prevent side entry had already been taken down.
Key Takeaway: This is a single family’s negligence lawsuit over a 2021 terrain park collision, not a class action, and it does not open a claims process to other Hoodoo guests.
How Much Is Hoodoo Ski Area Being Sued For
The lawsuit seeks $4,685,000 in combined economic and noneconomic damages. That figure covers both measurable costs and harder to quantify harm like pain and long term impact.
Economic damages typically include medical bills and any future treatment costs.
Noneconomic damages cover things like pain, suffering, and the lasting effects of a concussion and broken bones on a young child.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Total Damages Sought | $4,685,000 |
| Court Filing Fee | $884 |
| Case Type | Negligence, not subject to mandatory arbitration |
| Trial Type | Jury trial requested |
A dollar figure like this in a complaint is the plaintiff’s opening ask, not a guaranteed award. Juries and settlements often land somewhere else entirely.
Why Hoodoo Ski Area Is Being Blamed for the Accident
Hoodoo is being blamed because the lawsuit claims staff removed the terrain park’s safety rope roughly 30 minutes before the lifts closed. That timing decision is the core of the entire negligence claim.
The complaint says the rope normally separated the main run from the terrain park.
Without it, the adult skier could cross into the terrain park from the side rather than through the marked, signed entrance at the top.
Core allegations against Hoodoo:
- Failing to design the terrain park to prevent side entry
- Failing to provide adequate safety barriers and warning signs
- Removing the safety rope while the mountain was still open to guests
- Failing to warn skiers about the danger of entering the terrain park uncertain whether it was clear
Attorney Scott Lucas put it simply to reporters, saying the whole incident would have been avoided if the barriers had stayed up until closing.
Hoodoo Ski Area Lawsuit Case Details and Court
The Hoodoo Ski Area lawsuit is filed in Linn County Circuit Court in Oregon, where Hoodoo’s principal office is located. That’s the same court that has handled other lawsuits against the resort in recent years.
The complaint lists no formal case number publicly attached in early coverage, though filing details are on record with the court.
Hoodoo’s registered business address sits on Highway 20 near Sisters, technically within Linn County.
Filing snapshot:
- Court: Circuit Court of the State of Oregon for Linn County
- Filing fee: $884 under Oregon Revised Statute 21.160(1)(d)
- Claim type: Negligence, explicitly not subject to mandatory arbitration
- Requested resolution: Jury trial
That last detail matters. A jury trial request signals the family isn’t looking for a quiet settlement without public accountability.
Hoodoo Ski Area Past Lawsuit History
Hoodoo Ski Area has a documented history of lawsuits, and the pattern shifted sharply after a 2014 Oregon Supreme Court ruling. Before that ruling, the resort barely got sued at all.
In the decade before that decision, Hoodoo faced only two lawsuits and won both.
Since then, it has faced five lawsuits, settling two and winning two others, with this latest case still pending.
Hoodoo’s litigation record:
| Period | Lawsuits Faced | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Decade before 2014 ruling | 2 | Won both |
| Since the 2014 ruling | 5 | 2 settled, 2 won, 1 pending |
One related case, Freeby v. Hoodoo Ski Bowl Developers, involved a parking lot slip and fall and reached the Oregon Court of Appeals, which reversed a lower court ruling that had granted Hoodoo recreational use immunity.
Oregon Ski Liability Waiver Law Explained
Oregon ski liability waivers do not protect resorts from ordinary negligence claims the way they once did. That’s a direct result of a 2014 state Supreme Court decision that reshaped the entire industry.
Before that ruling, most resorts relied on signed waivers to block lawsuits entirely.
Now, guests who sign a lift ticket waiver can still sue if they can show the resort acted negligently.
What changed for guests and resorts:
- Waivers no longer provide blanket protection against negligence claims
- Guests can still pursue lawsuits over unsafe conditions or poor safety practices
- Resorts face higher exposure to lawsuits and rising insurance costs
- At least one major insurer has already left the Oregon market over this risk
A 2026 legislative attempt to restore stronger waiver protections for resort operators failed to advance out of committee.
Bagley v Mt Bachelor Ruling Explained
Bagley v. Mt. Bachelor Inc is the 2014 Oregon Supreme Court case that struck down blanket liability waivers for ski resorts. It’s the single legal event that explains almost everything happening in Oregon ski litigation today.
The case involved a snowboarder injured on a terrain park jump at Mt. Bachelor.
The court ruled that a signed waiver couldn’t fully shield a business from claims of ordinary negligence.
Why Bagley matters here:
- It ended the era of ironclad liability waivers at Oregon ski resorts
- It opened the door for negligence based lawsuits like the current Hoodoo case
- It directly correlates with Hoodoo’s jump from two lawsuits in a decade to five in about ten years since
- It continues shaping legislative debates over recreation liability in Oregon
Think of Bagley as the moment the rulebook changed for every ski resort in the state, not just the one being sued.
Key Takeaway: The 2014 Bagley v. Mt. Bachelor ruling eliminated blanket liability waivers in Oregon, directly driving the wave of ski resort lawsuits including this current Hoodoo case.
Is the Hoodoo Ski Area Lawsuit a Class Action
No, the Hoodoo Ski Area lawsuit is not a class action. It’s an individual negligence case filed on behalf of one injured child and her family.
There is no claims process for other Hoodoo guests to join.
If you were injured at Hoodoo in a separate incident, you would need to file your own individual claim, not attach yourself to this case.
Why this isn’t a class action:
- The injuries and circumstances are specific to one child and one incident
- Negligence claims like this typically require individual proof of harm
- No settlement fund or claim form exists for other guests
- Other injured guests would need separate legal representation and filings
This distinction matters because content claiming otherwise, or promising compensation to any past Hoodoo visitor, would be inaccurate.
What Hoodoo Ski Area Has Said About the Lawsuit
Hoodoo Ski Area has declined to comment on the pending litigation. General Manager Matthew MacFarland told local reporters he could not discuss a case that’s still working through the courts.
That’s a standard, expected response for an active lawsuit.
Companies facing ongoing litigation typically avoid public statements that could affect their legal position.
What’s confirmed about Hoodoo’s response:
- No detailed public statement addressing the specific allegations
- General Manager declined comment, citing pending litigation
- No admission or denial of wrongdoing made publicly as of current reporting
- Court filings remain the primary source for Hoodoo’s eventual formal response
Once Hoodoo files its formal answer in court, that document will likely offer the clearest look at how the resort plans to defend itself.
Hoodoo Ski Area Lawsuit Timeline 2026
The Hoodoo Ski Area lawsuit timeline stretches from a 2021 accident to a 2025 court filing, with 2026 expected to bring early procedural steps. Cases like this typically move slowly through discovery before reaching trial.
The underlying accident happened years before the lawsuit itself was filed.
Oregon law generally gives injury victims a window of several years to file, which explains the gap between the accident and the complaint.
Timeline highlights:
- March 7, 2021: Terrain park collision injures the plaintiff
- Late 2024: Oregon Court of Appeals hears the related Freeby case against Hoodoo
- 2025: Oregon Court of Appeals reverses the Freeby ruling, rejecting recreational use immunity for Hoodoo
- Early September 2025: Complaint filed in Linn County Circuit Court seeking $4.685 million
- 2026: Case expected to move through discovery and pretrial proceedings
No trial date has been publicly confirmed as of this writing, which is typical this early in a negligence case.
Oregon Ski Industry Lawsuit Trend 2026
Oregon’s ski industry is facing a documented surge in lawsuits, and that trend continues into 2026. Resorts across the state are dealing with rising legal costs tied directly to the post-Bagley legal environment.
At least one of Oregon’s two primary liability insurers has already exited the state.
A 2026 legislative effort to restore stronger waiver protections for recreation operators failed to clear committee.
Signs of the broader trend:
- Multiple Oregon ski resorts facing active negligence lawsuits
- Rising liability insurance costs across the recreation industry
- Failed legislative attempts to strengthen waiver protections
- A separate $21 million jury verdict against Vail Resorts in Colorado, showing waivers aren’t bulletproof even outside Oregon
That Colorado verdict involved a paralyzing ski lift fall, and it’s become a reference point for how juries can respond to serious recreation injuries nationwide.
What Happens Next in the Hoodoo Ski Area Lawsuit
What happens next depends on whether Hoodoo settles or takes the case to trial, following the pattern of its past lawsuits. Two of Hoodoo’s five post-Bagley cases ended in settlements, while two others went the resort’s way.
Discovery will likely come first, where both sides exchange evidence and take depositions.
Settlement talks often happen before trial, especially once both sides see how strong the evidence looks.
Likely next steps:
- Hoodoo files a formal answer to the complaint
- Both sides begin discovery, including witness statements and expert opinions
- Settlement negotiations may occur before any trial date is set
- If unresolved, the case proceeds toward the requested jury trial
Given Hoodoo’s mixed track record in similar cases, either outcome remains realistically on the table.
What Skiers Should Know About Ski Resort Liability
Skiers in Oregon should know that signing a liability waiver does not fully protect a resort from negligence claims. That single fact explains why lawsuits like this one keep happening across the state.
You can still be found responsible for your own ordinary risks while skiing.
But if a resort acts carelessly, like removing a safety barrier while guests are still on the mountain, that carelessness can still lead to a valid claim.
Practical takeaways for guests:
- A signed waiver doesn’t block every possible lawsuit in Oregon
- Document any accident thoroughly, including photos and witness names
- Report incidents to resort staff immediately when possible
- Understand that terrain parks carry unique risks tied to jumps and entry points
None of this means every fall on the mountain leads to a lawsuit. It means genuine negligence, like this case alleges, can still be challenged in court.
Key Takeaway: Oregon’s post-Bagley legal environment means skiers retain real legal options when resort negligence, not ordinary risk, causes their injury.
Latest Hoodoo Ski Area Lawsuit News September 2026
As of September 2026, the Hoodoo Ski Area lawsuit remains in its early procedural stages with no trial date publicly confirmed. The case continues to draw attention as part of Oregon’s broader ski liability story.
Hoodoo has not issued any new public statement addressing the specific allegations.
The related Freeby appellate ruling from 2025 continues to shape how courts view immunity defenses for ski operators statewide.
September 2026 snapshot:
- Case status: Early stage, likely in or approaching discovery
- Amount sought: $4,685,000
- Hoodoo’s public response: No comment, citing pending litigation
- Broader trend: Oregon ski liability lawsuits and insurance pressure continuing
Anyone following Oregon recreation law should expect this case, along with others working through the courts, to keep shaping how resorts handle safety and risk going forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Hoodoo Ski Area lawsuit about?
It is a negligence lawsuit over a 2021 terrain park collision that injured a young girl.
The family claims Hoodoo removed a safety rope too early, allowing an unsafe collision.
The lawsuit seeks $4,685,000 in damages.
Is the Hoodoo Ski Area lawsuit a class action I can join?
No, this is an individual family’s negligence case, not a class action.
There is no claims process or settlement fund for other Hoodoo guests.
Anyone with a separate injury claim would need to file their own individual lawsuit.
How much money is being sought in the Hoodoo Ski Area lawsuit?
The complaint seeks $4,685,000 in combined economic and noneconomic damages.
That figure covers medical costs along with pain and long term impact.
The final outcome could differ significantly through settlement or trial.
Why did Oregon ski resorts lose their liability waiver protection?
A 2014 Oregon Supreme Court case called Bagley v. Mt. Bachelor struck down blanket waiver protections.
Resorts can still be sued for ordinary negligence even when a guest signed a waiver.
That ruling directly fueled the current wave of Oregon ski lawsuits.
What happens next in the Hoodoo Ski Area case?
The case is expected to move through discovery before any trial date is set.
Hoodoo has previously settled some lawsuits and won others in similar circumstances.
No trial date has been publicly confirmed as of September 2026.
Where This Leaves You
The Hoodoo Ski Area lawsuit is a serious individual case, not a claims opportunity for the general public. Its real significance lies in what it says about Oregon’s shifting ski liability landscape.
If you were genuinely injured at a ski resort through negligence, talk to a personal injury attorney directly.
Otherwise, keep watching this case as one more data point in Oregon’s ongoing recreation liability story.
