Whitaker, Bryan

Gonzaga Law Review
Volume 21, Issue 2, pp. 413-426 (1996)

Recommended w/reservation

This article, fully titled "Empty Hands, Deep Pockets: Tort Liability and Potential for Recovery Against Individuals Applying Martial Arts Training in Self-Defense," is a basic primer on the theories of legal liability and recovery involved in martial arts self-defense.

The article addresses such topics as the theories of liability that an assailant might assert to recover for injuries sustained from a defendant's retaliation to the initial attack, the liability of a parent for the actions of a child, and the liability of an instructor for the actions of a student. There is also a very interesting section on liability coverage under insurance policies.

The author, Bryan Whitaker, is a 1995 graduate of the Gonzaga University School of Law and is practicing attorney in Washington state. The reader should keep in mind that the article focuses on the law of Washington state, which may differ from the law of other states. Although a basic knowledge of legal principles is helpful, the article strives to be understandable to those who might not have had the pleasure of three years of law school.

Annotated by: Stephen Duall (April 1999)

Martial Arts: Aikido | Hapkido | Judo | Jujitsu | Karate | Kung Fu/Wushu | Taekwondo |

Topics: legal issues |