Executive Summary
- Family of Brian Thomas Roberts seeks $14.5 million in wrongful death lawsuit filed in Deschutes County.
- Suit alleges guides ignored high avalanche danger reports and lacked necessary emergency equipment like an AED.
- Defendants include Diamond Lake Improvement Company and Sierra Wilderness Seminars Inc.
- Complaint claims operators dismissed concerns about guides’ lack of experience on Mt. Bailey.
The family of a 51-year-old skier killed in an avalanche on Mt. Bailey has filed a wrongful death lawsuit seeking more than $14.5 million in damages, alleging that negligence by ski guides and resort operators led to the fatal incident. The complaint, filed in Deschutes County Circuit Court, names the Diamond Lake Improvement Company, California-based Sierra Wilderness Seminars Inc., and three individual guides as defendants in the death of Brian Thomas Roberts.
According to court documents, attorneys for the Roberts family argue that environmental conditions on the day of the incident were excessively dangerous due to freezing rain, high winds, and heavy snow accumulation. The lawsuit alleges that the ski guides instructed the group to disregard a report indicating high avalanche danger, promising to alert them if conditions became unsafe.
The filing details the events of the final run, stating that skiers were directed to descend the mountain at one-minute intervals. Roberts, who was the fifth skier to descend, was reportedly buried when the avalanche was triggered. The plaintiffs claim that guides were unable to locate Roberts for 10 minutes. Furthermore, the lawsuit asserts that while Roberts initially showed signs of life, the guides were not equipped with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to assist in resuscitation efforts.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs also raise issues regarding the hiring practices of the operators. The complaint notes that prior to the 2023-2024 ski season, Diamond Lake transitioned to using guides from Sierra Wilderness Seminars. The filing alleges that concerns raised by a former guide regarding the new team’s lack of familiarity with Mt. Bailey were dismissed by the operators.
Civil Litigation and Safety Standards
This legal action underscores the critical duty of care required in commercial wilderness excursions, particularly regarding adherence to weather advisories and emergency preparedness. The court proceedings will likely examine whether the decision to proceed with the ski tour despite reported avalanche risks breached professional safety standards. It is important to note that the claims detailed in the complaint are civil allegations and liability has not yet been proven in a court of law.
