Egbert v. Griswold et al

Filing 163

ORDER RE: PLAINTIFF'S STATUS AS AN INVITEE OR LICENSEE UNDER THE COLORADO PREMISES LIABILITY ACT: For the reasons shared in the attached Order, the Court finds, as a matter of law, that Plaintiff was an invitee of USOPC during his time living and training at the Olympic & Paralympic Training Center. By Judge S. Kato Crews on 10/28/2024. (Crews, S.)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF COLORADO
District Judge S. Kato Crews
Civil Action No.: 1:22-cv-02943-SKC-MEH
PARKER EGBERT,
Plaintiff,
v.
ROBERT GRISWOLD,
UNITED STATES OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE, and
DOES 1 THROUGH 50, inclusive, whose true names are unknown,
Defendants.
ORDER RE: PLAINTIFF’S STATUS AS AN INVITEE OR LICENSEE
UNDER THE COLORADO PREMISES LIABILITY ACT
During a hearing on September 4, 2024, Plaintiff and Defendant USOPC
indicated they had a dispute over whether Plaintiff was an invitee or licensee of
USOPC under the Colorado Premises Liability Act (CPLA or Act), Colo. Rev. Stat. §
13-21-115, when he lived at the Olympic & Paralympic Training Center (“Training
Center”) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Court ordered the parties to file
simultaneous briefs on the issue. Dkt. 147. The parties filed their briefs on September
13, 2024. Dkt. 151 (USOPC’s Brief); Dkt. 152 (Plaintiff’s Brief); see also Dkt. 154
(USOPC’s Response Brief); Dkt. 155 (Plaintiff’s Reply Brief). Having considered the
matter and applicable law, the Court finds Plaintiff was an invitee under the CPLA.

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LEGAL PRINCIPLES
The CPLA governs the duties a landowner owes to individuals on their land.
Vigil v. Franklin, 103 P.3d 322, 326 (Colo. 2004). It preempts common law negligence
claims and provides the exclusive remedy for claims against a landowner for injuries
occurring on their land. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-21-115(3). Under the Act, a landowner’s
specific duties depend on whether the plaintiff is classified as a trespasser, a licensee,
or an invitee. Id. It is undisputed that USOPC was a “landowner” under the Act as
concerns the Training Center where Plaintiff lived and trained for a period and where
he alleges Defendant Griswold “repeatedly subjected Plaintiff to violent abuse and
rape” between June 2021 and August 2022. Dkt. ¶21. Categorizing the status of a
visitor on another’s land as an “invitee” or “licensee” is a question of law for the court.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13–21–115(6).
Plaintiff argues he was an “invitee” under the CPLA. An “invitee” is “a person
who enters or remains on the land of another to transact business in which the parties
are mutually interested or who enters or remains on such land in response to the
landowner’s express or implied representation that the public is requested, expected,
or intended to enter or remain.” Id. at § -115(7)(a). “[A]n invitee may recover for
damages caused by the landowner’s unreasonable failure to exercise reasonable care
to protect against dangers of which he actually knew or should have known.” Id. at §
-115(3)(c)(I).

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Defendant argues Plaintiff was a “licensee” under the CPLA. A “licensee” is “a
person who enters or remains on the land of another for the licensee’s own
convenience or to advance the licensee’s own interests, pursuant to the landowner’s
permission or consent. [It] includes a social guest.” Id. at § -115(7)(c). “A licensee may
recover only for damages caused: (I) By the landowner’s unreasonable failure to
exercise reasonable care with respect to dangers created by the landowner of which
the landowner actually knew; or (II) By the landowner’s unreasonable failure to warn
of dangers not created by the landowner which are not ordinarily present on property
of the type involved and of which the landowner actually knew.” Id. at § -115(3)(b).
“The principal distinction between invitee and licensee ‘turns on whether that
person’s presence on the land was affirmatively invited or merely permitted.’” Legro
v. Robinson, 369 P.3d 785, 791 (Colo. App. 2015) (quoting Wycoff v. Grace Cmty.
Church of Assemblies of God, 251 P.3d 1260, 1267 (Colo. App. 2010)). If affirmatively
invited, the person is an invitee; if their presence is merely permitted, they are a
licensee. Id. “‘[A]n invitation is conduct which justifies others in believing that the
possessor desires them to enter the land; permission is conduct justifying others in
believing that the possessor is willing that they shall enter if they desire to do so.’”
Id. (quoting Restatement (Second) of Torts § 332 cmt. b (1965)).
What also distinguishes invitees from licensees is an invitee includes someone
who enters or remains on another’s land “to transact business in which the parties
are mutually interested[.]” Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-21-115(7)(a). Colorado courts have
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interpreted this to mean that the transaction of business in which the parties are
mutually interested “need not invariably be engaged in commercial activity.” Wycoff,
251 P.3d at 1267 (emphasis in original). To that end, the Colorado Court of Appeals
has noted that “other courts have extended ‘business invitee’ status where nonprofit
entities encouraged attendance by individuals whose presence provided no apparent
economic benefit.” Id. at 1268 (citing cases).
Another aspect that distinguishes invitees and licensees is an invitee also
includes someone “who enters or remains on such land in response to the landowner’s
express or implied representation that the public is requested, expected, or intended
to enter or remain.” Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-21-115(7)(a). Colorado courts have
interpreted this to mean that “one can be a ‘public’ invitee where an invitation is
extended to ‘the public, or classes or members of it.’” Wycoff, 251 P.3d at 1268 (citing
Restatement (Second) of Torts § 332 cmt. c (emphasis added)). To this end, the
Colorado Court of Appeals has noted that a garden club member was an invitee of an
estate “opened to those members of the public who were on the Palm Beach Garden
Club tour of homes,” and a girl-scout leader was an invitee where a bank allowed the
troop (a segment of the public) free use of its facilities. Id. (citing Post v. Lunney, 261
So.2d 146, 148 (Fla. 1972) and McKinnon v. Washington Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass’n, 68
Wash.2d 644, 414 P.2d 773, 777–78 (1966), respectively).
And finally, invitations that carry explicit or implicit assurances of safety to
those invited on the land entitles those visitors to invitee status. See id. (“Ultimately,
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plaintiff was an invitee because Grace’s invitation carried an implicit assurance that
Grace would act with reasonable care to protect her. [ ] Few youths would attend—
and even fewer parents would allow and pay for their child’s attendance at—an
overnight event whose sponsor disclaimed any intent or ability to make the event
reasonably safe.”).
ANALYSIS
Plaintiff argues he was an invitee of USOPC because (1) he was affirmatively
invited to the Training Center and assured safety; and (2) his presence there was for
his and USOPC’s mutual benefit. USOPC argues Plaintiff was a licensee because: (1)
he was at the Training Center to advance his own interests and did not share a
mutually beneficial business relationship with USOPC; (2) USOPC did not
affirmatively invite him to live or train at the Training Center; and (3) there is no
evidence that USOPC provided Plaintiff assurances of safety. Dkts. 151, pp.2, 5; 154,
p.3. None of USOPC’s arguments are persuasive.
1.

USOPC Affirmatively Invited Plaintiff to Live and Train at the
Training Center
It is undisputed that Plaintiff had to complete an application process to live

and train at the Training Center. 1 USOPC downplays the application process by

The Court previously ordered the parties to confer and email the Court a copy of
whatever correspondence might exist from USOPC to Plaintiff informing him of his
successful application. The Court received that email on October 25, 2024. That email
was not helpful. In that email, the parties explained:
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arguing it did not recruit or solicit Plaintiff to live or train there, but rather, Plaintiff
(through his parents) sought out USOPC for the opportunity. But this distinction
makes no difference.
The Court takes judicial notice of USOPC’s representations on its website
concerning its Resident Program. https://www.usopc.org/training-centers/coloradosprings (last accessed 10/25/2024); see Fed. R. Evid. 201; O’Toole v. Northrop
Grumman Corp., 499 F.3d 1218, 1225 (10th Cir. 2007) (“It is not uncommon for courts
to take judicial notice of factual information found on the world wide web.”). There,
USOPC indicates the Training Center “offers a Resident Program which allows
approved athletes to live on-complex in the resident dormitories[.] Athletes accepted

In response to the Court’s Order dated October 21, 2024, attached are
documents and emails between Plaintiff’s family and representatives
from USOPC that are relevant to Plaintiff’s application and acceptance
into the OPTC.
It is Plaintiff’s position that his mother, Laura Egbert, was notified of
Plaintiff’s acceptance into the OPTC resident program verbally by
Nathan Manley on December 17, 2021 in Greensboro, NC. However,
there is no testimony regarding that conversation in the record and
Defendant USOPC will not consent to that position at this current time.
Moreover, all parties agree that Plaintiff submitted an application to be
accepted into the OPTC resident program per USOPC’s email dated
November 16, 2021 (bates labeled USOPC_001810: pg. 4 of the pdf).
However, Plaintiff’s application has not been produced in discovery.
Our office is providing a blank application per the link in USOPC’s email
(bates labeled USOPC_001810), and it is Plaintiff’s position that this
application is identical to the one that was submitted on Plaintiff’s
behalf, however, this has not been confirmed in discovery and USOPC
will not consent to that position at this current time.
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in the Resident Program are eligible to utilize [Training Center] facilities and services
throughout the year.” Id. (emphasis added). Further down on the same page, the
website has “Frequently Asked Questions.” Id. One question posed is “How does an
athlete qualify for a resident program?” Id. The answer: “Each sport has different
criteria to earn residency at the [Training Center]. National Governing Bodies (NGBs)
work closely with USOPC Sport Performance to identify which athletes will be
selected to the resident program. Athlete selection can range from emerging or
developmental talent to Olympians and Paralympians.” Id. (emphasis added). The
Court also takes judicial notice of the OPTC Rates & Policies document also found on
the website. Id.; see also Dkt. 151-1, pp.5-27 (containing the 2020 Policies & Rates).
That document defines a Resident Athlete (on-site) as: “a guest who has been
approved by USOPC Sport Performance, after NGB recommendation, to live and train
at the [Training Center] for 90 days or more (CS) or a full one (1) year at a time (LP).”
https://www.usopc.org/training-centers/colorado-springs, OPTC Rates & Policies, p.5.
The Court sees little daylight between a person affirmatively “invited” to live
and train on a landowner’s property versus one who is “approved,” “selected,” or
“accepted,” to do the same after first completing an application for the privilege to do
so. Under the circumstances of this case, the Court finds USOPC’s “approval,”
“selection,” and “acceptance” of Plaintiff into its program to live and train at the
Training Center is tantamount to an affirmative “invitation.” To be sure, Plaintiff
was neither taking short cuts across the Training Center, nor a loafer or loiterer or
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one who entered the Training Center to get out of the weather with USOPC’s
permission, nor a spectator or sightseer not in any way encouraged to come to the
Training Center. Wycoff, 251 P.3d at 1267 (citing these examples of licensees). He
instead, after having his application approved by USOPC, was affirmatively invited
to live and train at the Training Center for an extended period. Notably, during that
period, USOPC offered Plaintiff dining services, transportation services, a swimming
pool, a dorm room, and other training and daily living amenities. See, e.g.,
https://www.usopc.org/training-centers/colorado-springs; see also Dkt. 151-1, p.6
(defining on-site services to include “housing, full access to the dining room (meals),
and based on program approval, access to training facilities/venues (gyms, pools,
meeting space, strength and conditioning, medical services, and sport performance
services)”).
This is all in addition to the fact that Plaintiff was an elite paralympic
swimmer, and thus, in a specific class of the public when USOPC invited him to live
and train at the Training Center. Wycoff, 251 P.3d at 1268 (“[O]ne can be a ‘public’
invitee where an invitation is extended to ‘the public, or classes or members of it.’”)
(citation omitted); Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-21-115(7)(a). The Court finds USOPC
affirmatively invited Plaintiff to live and train at the Training Center.
2.

USOPC and Plaintiff Transacted Business of Mutual Interest
Plaintiff was a paralympic swimmer who aspired to Olympic-level performance

and USOPC is in the business of recruiting and supporting elite paralympic
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swimmers. Regarding the latter, through its affiliated entity, U.S. Paralympic
Swimming, USOPC’s focus is “[t]o be the best swimming nation in the world, both in
gold medal and overall medal count at the Paralympic Games[.]” Dkt. 155-1, p.6. One
area of achievement on which it focuses is to “[r]ecruit and support elite swimmers[.]”
Id. Its stated mission is “[t]o provide the right athletes (elite level) with the right staff
(trained professional coaches) and involved in the right competitions (high quality
with high competitiveness) to help athletes sustain competitive excellence and
thereby inspire all Americans.” Id. at p.7. And its “continued goal” is “to find
developmental athletes, find athletes who are currently training, create opportunities
for competition, and assist coaches to develop highly trained athletes who can medal
at major World Para Swimming international competitions.” Id. at p.12; see also id.
at p.17 (“The U.S. Paralympics Swimming Team is very fortunate to have a resident
program that is hosted at the [Training Center]. The goal of the program is to provide
training and support to athletes that show the potential to be Paralympians who do
not have resources where they live.”). Again looking at USOPC’s website, its stated
mission there is “[e]mpowering the competitive excellence and well-being of Team
USA athletes, championing the power of sport, and inspiring the nation.” See
https://www.usopc.org/about-the-usopc. Elsewhere it describes its mission of
“holistically supporting athletes via a variety of programs for both athletes and their
National Governing Bodies (NGBs).” Id. No doubt, from its many pronouncements of

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its mission, goals, and aspirations, USOPC’s business (in relevant part) is finding,
recruiting, and supporting, elite swimmers like Plaintiff.
Even more convincing of USOPC’s business interests in this case is the list of
its codified purposes. See 36 U.S.C. § 220503. One codified purpose of the USOPC is
“to exercise exclusive jurisdiction . . . over—(A) all matters pertaining to United States
participation in the . . . Paralympic Games . . .; and (B) the organization of the . . .
Paralympic Games . . ..” Id. at § 220503(3) (emphasis added). Additional relevant
statutory purposes include: “to obtain for the United States, directly or by delegation
to the appropriate national governing body, the most competent amateur
representation possible in each event of the . . . Paralympic Games[;]” “to promote
and support amateur athletic activities involving the United States[;]” “to foster the
development of and access to amateur athletic facilities for use by amateur athletes
and assist in making existing amateur athletic facilities available for use by amateur
athletes[;]” and, “to encourage and provide assistance to amateur athletic programs
and competition for amateur athletes with disabilities, including, where feasible, the
expansion of opportunities for meaningful participation by such amateur athletes in
programs of athletic competition for able-bodied amateur athletes[.]” Id. at §§
220503(4), (5), (9), (13).
It is of no moment that Plaintiff did not himself pay USOPC for his stay at the
Training Center. See Wycoff, 251 P.3d at 1267. And besides, though the parties both
referenced that Plaintiff’s stay at the Training Center was based on the High
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Performance Plan, they inadequately explain what that means. But as far as the
Court can discern from its review of that plan (Dkt. 155-1), it simply means the costs
associated with Plaintiff’s stay at the Training Center were funded through a
separate source. See generally Dk.t 155-1. USOPC concedes as much. Dkt. 151, p.3
(“[Plaintiff’s] training at the [Training Center] was funded through a High
Performance Plan.”). Which all indicates USOPC received funds to cover Plaintiff’s
stay and training, just not directly from Plaintiff. From a commercial activity
standpoint, the Court sees little material difference in whether the funds USOPC
received for Plaintiff’s stay came directly from Plaintiff or another source on his
behalf. See Wycoff, 251 P.3d at 1267. The Court finds USOPC and Plaintiff transacted
business of mutual interest based on USOPC’s stated goals, missions, and business
interests, and Plaintiff’s status and goals as an elite level paralympic swimmer.
3.

USOPC Provided Plaintiff Assurances of Safety
As noted in this Court’s previous Order Re: Defendant USOPC’s Motion to

Dismiss and to Strike (Dkt. 153), an express codified purpose of USOPC is “to promote
a safe environment in sports that is free from abuse, including emotional, physical,
and sexual abuse, of any amateur athlete.” 36 U.S.C. § 220503(15); 2 see also id. at §
220503(16) (stating the additional purpose “to effectively oversee the national
governing bodies with respect to compliance with and implementation of the policies

As an amateur athlete, Plaintiff belongs to the class of persons this statute was
designed to protect and the injuries he claims are the type the statute is designed to
protect against.

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and procedures of the [USOPC], including policies and procedures on the
establishment of a safe environment in sports as described in paragraph (15).”) The
Court can think of no stronger explicit assurance of safety (for purposes of this
premises liability analysis) than one codified through an act of Congress.
But beyond that, in USOPC’s Policies & Rates brochure, its section titled
“Athletes Safety” provides;
The USOPC is committed to the safety and wellbeing of athletes and
participants involved in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movement.
As part of this commitment, the USOPC’s policy, prevention, and
education efforts aim to create an environment free of emotional,
physical and sexual misconduct and abuse, and to ensure effective and
prompt action and resolution upon the occurrence of misconduct and/or
abuse.
Dkt. 151-1, p.17. That same policy touts that “the USOPC requires individuals over
the age of 18 who train, reside or work at an OPTC to undergo a background check
and to be compliant with the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s education and training
requirements. Additionally, the USOPC has implemented safeguards specifically
aimed at protecting minors as outlined below.” Id. And the “USOPC Training Center
Access Protocol” states: “At times, issues arise concerning who should have access to
an OPTC. In this regard, the USOPC endeavors to: provide a safe environment for
athletes and other individuals who reside, train or compete at OPTCs; [and] protect
persons at risk, including minors and disabled persons[.]” Id. at p.23.
Based on USOPC’s codified and extensive express policies regarding its
commitment to athlete safety, it strains credulity to believe these assurances
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somehow did not apply or were not given to Plaintiff, as USOPC would have this
Court believe. See, e.g., Wycoff, 251 P.3d at 1268 (“Few youths would attend—and
even fewer parents would allow and pay for their child’s attendance at—an overnight
event whose sponsor disclaimed any intent or ability to make the event reasonably
safe.”). These assurances were not only explicit and in writing, but they are indeed
codified in the United States Code. USOPC’s explicit assurances of safety further
render Plaintiff an invitee. Id. And at minimum, the Court finds USOPC’s invitation
to Plaintiff to live and train at the Training Center carried implicit assurances of
safety arising from its abundant written and statutory pronouncements of the safe
environment it affords athletes living and training in its quarters.
*

*

*

For the reasons shared above, the Court finds, as a matter of law, that Plaintiff
was an invitee of USOPC during his time living and training at the Training Center.

DATED:

October 28, 2024

BY THE COURT:
____________________________________
S. Kato Crews
United States District Judge

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