Can private landowners be held liable for allowing sportsmen access to their lands?
A law recently passed by the Indiana legislature strengthens protection for landowners who allow people on their land to hunt, fish or trap. Farmers who might otherwise welcome responsible hunters on their land are often concerned about liability so concerned that they just refuse to allow anyone on their land. Horror stories have cropped up about innocent landowners being sued for thousands of dollars when clumsy hunters fell out of tree stands. And infamous cases, such as the coffee spill that cost McDonalds millions, strike lawsuit fear into landowners hearts. Recognizing the barrier that liability places between farmers and outdoor enthusiasts, Dick Mercier, president of the Indiana Sportsmen’s Roundtable, asked Indiana lawmakers to strengthen the law that is already in place protecting landowners from liability. Indiana law states that landowners do not assume responsibility or incur liability for injury to people using their land for the purpose of hunting, fishing or trapping,
