Colorado Supreme Court Rules Epic Pass Purchase Forfeited Lawsuit

Colorado Springs Pueblo, CO, September 21, 2026 —

The Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that an injured snowboarder’s purchase of a new Epic Pass effectively waived his right to pursue an existing lawsuit against Vail Summit Resorts. The court’s decision hinges on the terms and conditions included with the pass, which encompassed a waiver of all claims.

In its majority opinion, the court determined that the snowboarder was bound by the terms he agreed to at the time of purchasing the pass, regardless of whether he had read them in their entirety. This forfeiture means the snowboarder can no longer proceed with his litigation against the resort concerning his injuries.

The specific details regarding the snowboarder’s injury, the timeline of the lawsuit, and the exact wording of the waiver were not provided in the summary of the ruling. Similarly, the identity of the injured snowboarder and the precise date of the court’s decision were not specified.

However, the ruling was not unanimous. A dissenting opinion within the Colorado Supreme Court argued that the decision unfairly benefits the ski industry. The dissent expressed concern that such rulings could lead to broader injustices for patrons who may not fully comprehend the implications of the waivers they agree to when purchasing ski passes.

The implications of this ruling for future legal challenges by skiers and snowboarders against resorts in Colorado remain to be seen. The extent to which pass waivers can preclude litigation is a key point of contention, highlighted by the differing views presented in the court’s majority and dissenting opinions.

Story summarized from the original created by Michael Karlik michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com on gazette.com, see more information here.

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