Amusements, Sports and Entertainment Practice Group

Marshall, Dennehey's Amusement, Sports and Entertainment Practice Group is nationally recognized.  The firm's clients are involved in virtually every aspect of the broad field of amusement, sports and entertainment, from theme parks, water parks and professional sports teams to small carnivals and local skating centers.

Litigators in our practice group have made amusement, sports and entertainment a principal focus of their practice for over 20 years.  Indeed, Marshall, Dennehey is acknowledged in legal and business circles as a significant and influential firm in the industry.  Our litigators publish and lecture frequently in their areas of concentration and provide commentary in the print and broadcast media on breaking legal stories.  Our involvement in standards development provides us with advance information on emerging standards and legal requirements for our amusement clients.

Our attorneys are members of industry, trade and professional organizations including the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), the Outdoor Amusement Business Association (OABA), the National Association of Ride Safety Officials (NAARSO), the Ice Skating Institute of America (ISIA), the New Jersey Amusement Association (NJAA), the Pennsylvania Amusement Park Association (PAPA), the World Waterpark Association (WWA), the International Recreational Go-Kart Association (IRGA) and the American Society of Testing and Material (ASTM) F24 Committee on Amusement Rides and Devices.

Many of the lawyers in our group have positions of leadership in the amusement, sports and entertainment industry.

• Counsel to the New Jersey Amusement Association
• Member of the IAAPA Government Relations Committee
• State Licensed Soccer Coaches
• Counsel to the International Recreational Go-Kart Association
• Member of the Risk Management Committee of the Roller Skating Association International
• Member of the Editorial Board of Inflatable News Magazine
• Member of the New Jersey Governor's Commission on Amusement Liability

The Amusement, Sports and Entertainment Practice Group is unique in many ways that distinguish us from our peers.

• An important asset to our litigation group has been membership in the International Amusement and Leisure Defense Association, Inc. (IALDA), a network of defense counsel and insurance professionals who concentrate their practices in the sports and entertainment field.  IALDA members communicate confidentially regarding expert witnesses and other defense resources throughout the United States and Canada.
  
• Our litigators have played an innovative role in the development of national insurance programs in the amusement industry.  Program administrators have relied on our expertise for drafting risk management guidelines, and designing accident investigation and loss control programs.  Most recently, we served as National Counsel to the insurance program endorsed by the Roller Skating Association International.
  
• Our amusement industry clients have turned to us for advice on complying with federal and state laws governing the amusement workplace.  We have advised clients on compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and developed programs to deal with the problem of sexual harassment in the workplace.

A representative sample of our clients include:

• Professional and University sports teams including the Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, stadiums and arenas in the Pittsburgh area, as well as universities including Villanova, Temple, LaSalle, St. Joseph's and Lehigh.
• Youth sport organizations including little league baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer as well as their affiliated organizations, coaches, clubs, schools, townships and landowners who are indemnified under contracts and insurance policies.
• Amusement parks, theme parks and water parks including Busch Entertainment Corporation, Premier Parks/Six Flags Great Adventure, Dutch Wonderland, Sesame Place, Clementon Lake Amusement Park, Keystone Racetrack, Reithoffer Shows, Vivona Amusements, Inc., Majestic Midway, Morey Organization, Wonderland Pier, Gillian's Island, Funtown Pier and Fantasy Island.
• Local amusement facilities including United Skates of America, Young's Skating Center, Palace Skating Center, South Amboy Arena, The Rink in Montvale, Cornwells Roller Skating Center, Parkway Skating Center, Marple Sports Arena Corp., Circus Time Amusement and Entertainment and The Falls.
• Insurance companies and brokers including ACE, TIG, K&K, American Specialty, Essex, Markel, Haas & Wilkerson, H&W Risk Management, Clarendon Insurance, AON, Entertainment Brokers International and Marsh.
• Entertainment and nationally known performers including the comedian Gallagher, the musical group The Who, Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff.  We have also represented a number of local actors, acts and musical groups, as well as their venues and locales for putting on their shows.  We have not only represented these clients in liability situations in which fans and spectators claim injury but also defamation, libel and slander suits by and between acts and various organizations and guilds.

Inquiries and referrals concerning amusements, sports and entertainment defense should be directed to: