Article 5 - Space Flight Liability and Immunity

California Civil Code — §§ 2210-2212

Sections (3)

Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 416, Sec. 2. (AB 2243) Effective January 1, 2013.

For purposes of this article:

(a)“Participant” means a space flight participant as defined in Section 50902 of Title 51 of the United States Code.

(b)“Participant injury” means a bodily injury, including death, emotional injury, or property damage, sustained by the participant.

(c)“Space

flight activities” means launch services or reentry services as defined in Section 50902 of Title 51 of the United States Code.

(d)“Space flight entity” means any public or private entity that holds, either directly or through a corporate subsidiary or parent, a license, permit, or other authorization issued by the United States Federal Aviation Administration pursuant to the federal Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act of 2004 (51 U.S.C. Sec. 50905 et seq.), including, but not limited to, a safety approval and a payload determination.

§ 2211

Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 48, Sec. 1. (SB 415) Effective January 1, 2015.

(a)A space flight entity providing space flight activities to a participant shall have each participant sign a warning statement that shall contain, at a minimum, and in addition to any language required by federal law, the following notice:

“WARNING AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT: I understand and acknowledge that, under

California law, there is limited civil liability for bodily injury, including death, emotional injury, or property damage, sustained by a participant as a result of the inherent risks associated with space flight activities provided by a space flight entity. I have given my informed consent to participate in space flight activities after receiving a description of the inherent risks associated with space flight activities, as required by federal law pursuant to Section 50905 of Title 51 of the United States Code and Section 460.45 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The consent that I have given acknowledges that the inherent risks associated with space flight activities include, but are not limited to, risk of bodily injury, including death, emotional injury, and property damage. I understand and acknowledge that I am participating in space flight activities at my own risk. I have been given the opportunity to consult with an attorney before signing this statement.”

(b)Failure to comply with the requirements provided in this section shall prevent a space flight entity from invoking the privileges of immunity provided by Section 2212.

(c)Nothing in this section shall be construed to be contrary to the public policy of this state.

§ 2212

Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 416, Sec. 2. (AB 2243) Effective January 1, 2013.

(a)Except as provided in subdivision (c), a space flight entity shall not be liable for participant injury arising out of space flight activities if both of the following apply:

(1)The participant has been informed of the risks associated with space flight activities as required by federal law and Section 2211.

(2)The participant

has given his or her informed consent that he or she is voluntarily participating in space flight activities after having been informed of the risks associated with those activities, as required by federal law and Section 2211.

(b)If informed consent is given pursuant to subdivision (a), a participant, his or her representative, including the heirs, administrators, executors, assignees, next of kin, and estate of the participant, or any person who attempts to bring a claim on behalf of the participant for a participant injury, shall not be authorized to maintain an action against, or recover from, a space flight entity for a participant injury that resulted from the risks associated with space flight activities, except as provided in subdivision (c).

(c)Nothing in this section shall prevent or limit the liability of a space flight entity that does any of the following:

(1)Commits an act or omission that constitutes gross negligence or willful or wanton disregard for the safety of the participant, and that act or omission proximately causes a participant injury.

(2)Intentionally causes a participant injury.

(3)Has actual knowledge or reasonably should have known of a dangerous condition on the land or in the facilities or equipment used in space flight activities and the dangerous condition proximately causes injury, damage, or death to the participant.

(d)Any limitation on legal liability afforded by this section to a space flight entity is in addition to any other limitations of legal liability otherwise provided by law.

(e)Nothing in this section

shall be construed to limit the liability of a manufacturer of a part or component used in space flight activities if a defective part or component proximately causes an injury to the participant.