Proper

Abstract

This study sought to analyze U.S. case law about sports-related automated external defibrillators (AED) by using quantitative content analysis and determining associations between case outcome and age of plaintiff, type of plaintiff, type of defense, presence of AED, AED use, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) administration, qualified personnel, and reasonable care. Some 13 U.S. state and federal court decisions regarding sports-related AEDs between 1993 and 2015 were selected from the LexisNexis legal database. The major findings for this study were as follows. First, adult plaintiffs outnumbered minor plaintiffs in AED lawsuits, and a vast majority of plaintiffs were invitees. Second, approximately 62% of the defendants did not have an AED on site. Third, the plaintiffs usually brought a negligence claim against sports facilities to recover financially, whereas four elements not present was the dominant defense sports facilities raised in AED litigation. Fourth, case outcome was significantly associated with age of the plaintiff and reasonable care.