AHC Announces Topic for 4th Quarter Webinar
Webinar to focus on State Equine Liability Law
The American Horse Council (AHC) will conduct its fourth quarter webinar for 2018 examining the legal landscape that characterizes diverse state equine liability laws. The hour-long session will feature two nationally recognized practitioners of equine law, Julie Fershtman, Esq. and Milton Toby, Esq. The webinar will take place on Wednesday, November 14, at 3:00 pm ET.
According to the 2017 economic impact study analyzing the horse industry, more than 30% of U.S. households include equine enthusiasts among their ranks. Nearly two-thirds of this group – or more than 17% of U.S. households – includes individuals who are active participants in equine activities making them subject to liability waivers. The waivers can take the form of written contracts and/or signage placed on an equine property and may limit the rights and responsibilities of riders and property owners engaged in equine activities. Because equine liability law is a state matter, the $122 billion U.S. horse industry is subject to a patchwork of disparate laws and regulations that vary across jurisdictions. Ms. Fershtman and Mr. Toby will help us navigate the legal maze, identifying common threads that cross state lines, and analyze nation-wide legal trends impacting the equine sector.
Julie Fersthman is a shareholder in the Michigan-based law firm of Foster Swift. Her law practice covers all equine breeds and disciplines and serves stables, industry professionals, associations, trainers, and show management. Highly experienced in handling a variety of disputes involving the equine sector, Ms. Fershtman has served as special out-of-state counsel on equine-related lawsuits in 18 jurisdictions across the country.
Milton Toby is an attorney and award-winning author based in central Kentucky. For the last decade, he has taught courses in equine commercial law, regulatory law, and federal income tax for the equine industry program in the University of Louisville’s College of Business. A noted thoroughbred racing historian, Mr. Toby has written about high profile racing disqualification controversies and horse theft.
The webinar is open to both AHC members and non-members—we encourage everyone to attend! The webinar lasts approximately one hour, and will allow for Q&A at the end of each speaker’s presentation. To register for the webinar, please contact Dennis Martinez at DMartinez@horsecouncil.org. We look forward to having you join us on November 14.