In a jury trial jury instructions are given to the jury at the end of the case. These instructions are prepared by the attorneys of both parties and presented to the judge for approval. The instructions tell the jurors what the law is and how to apply the law to the facts that have been proven.
Mississippi Instruction to Jury — Essential Factual Elements Necessary to Hold an Instructor, Trainer, or Coach Liable for an Injury to a Participant in a Sports Activity: In Mississippi, when it comes to holding an instructor, trainer, or coach liable for an injury to a participant in a sports activity, there are essential factual elements that need to be considered. These elements are crucial in determining whether the instructor or coach should be held responsible for the injury sustained by the participant. Key factors include: 1. Duty of Care: The instructor, trainer, or coach must have had a duty of care towards the participant. This means they had a legal obligation to act reasonably and provide a safe environment for the sports activity. 2. Breach of Duty: The injured participant must prove that the instructor, trainer, or coach breached their duty of care. This can happen if the instructor failed to follow industry standards, neglected supervision, or acted in a reckless manner that contributed to the participant's injury. 3. Causation: It is essential to establish a causal link between the instructor's breach of duty and the participant's injury. The injured party must demonstrate that the instructor's actions or lack thereof directly caused their harm. 4. Foreseeability: The injured participant must illustrate that the risks associated with the particular sports activity were reasonably foreseeable by the instructor, trainer, or coach. If the risks were foreseeable, they should have taken appropriate measures to prevent harm or adequately instruct on how to mitigate risks. 5. Participant's Understanding and Consent: It is important to evaluate whether the participant, as a reasonable person, understood the inherent risks associated with the sports activity. If the participant voluntarily assumed those risks and consented to participate, it may limit or eliminate the liability of the instructor or coach. Types of Mississippi Instruction to Jury — Essential Factual Elements: 1. Contact Sports: In cases involving contact sports such as football, basketball, or wrestling, the nature of the activity itself presents inherent risks. The jury instruction would focus on the level of contact expected in the sport, the participant's understanding of those risks, and the duty of care owed by the instructor, trainer, or coach. 2. Individual Sports: For activities like gymnastics, swimming, or track and field, where there may not be direct physical contact between participants, the jury instruction would emphasize the specific risks associated with the sport and the instructor's responsibility to provide appropriate training and supervision. 3. Extreme Sports: Extreme sports like skateboarding, rock climbing, or snowboarding pose additional challenges due to their higher risk nature. The instruction to the jury would highlight the specific dangers involved, the duty of care owed by the instructor, trainer, or coach, and the participant's assumption of those risks. In conclusion, in order to hold an instructor, trainer, or coach liable for an injury to a participant in a sports activity in Mississippi, the essential factual elements of duty of care, breach of duty, causation, foreseeability, and the participant's understanding and consent must be considered. The specific type of sports activity involved will influence the jury instruction, focusing on the unique risks associated with that particular sport.
