Erie v. White

Jacob Erie sued Kirk White for negligently-supplying equipment that Erie knowingly and voluntarily used to cut a tree. White moved for summary judgment, arguing assumption of risk. The trial court granted the motion, and we affirm.

At the outset, it is necessary to understand the difference between tree-climbing equipment and pole-climbing equipment, as described in the record here. A person using either type of equipment wears a belt or harness with a metal ring on each side. He or she clips a safety strap into one metal ring, wraps it around the tree or pole, then clips it into the other…