[citizenmike]

But the hosts twice gave the woman an opportunity to get out of the contest by offering her tickets to some concert- she refused the first time and accepted the second- but even then suggested she could still go on if they helped her.

Would you set up a contest knowing that participants could be injured or die? Would you be OK with that? Or would their signed waivers or poor judgement remove any misgivings or concerns?

For me the answer is no and that is how I would vote if I was on the jury.

[endthematrix]

All contests have inherited risks, it wouldn't be a contest then. Participants generally assume the inherent risks of the game, and sign wavers to prevent liability to the promoter.

Think of the liability concern for TV reality show "Fear Factor?" A sued NBC for $2.5 million, contending that he threw up because of a "Fear Factor" episode in which contestants ate rats mixed in a blender.

[CharlesWayneCT]

A lot of contests have the possibility that people could be injured or die. For example, in San Diego they have had contests where people had to ride a roller coaster continuously. While people DO ride coasters a lot without injury, it is always a possibility that you could be hurt, especially with repeated rides. So they get a waiver.

Of course, skiing is dangerous, people die skiing, but people run ski contests. Lots of stuff can be dangerous.

We all know now that this "water poisoning" isn't a "only a few poeople fall ill to it" kind of thing, but I don't think the station or the DJ's believed it at the time.