Online and DOE Liability Waivers -- state of the industry?

dnickelson

Have a hypothetical but is likely something we'll face soon: ADA events use the Convio online waiver process, meaning that a volunteer cannot register unless they accept the waiver. ADA also uses a physical paper-based waiver on DOE. Both online registrants and DOE registrants are supposed to sign the paper-based waiver, even if they already registered and accepted the waiver online (language of both waivers is identical). My questions are:

1) Do other organizations have what amounts to this dual process? If so, is there a legal or other reason for doing so?

2) If only one of the other waiver is accepted, does that waiver control? That is, if accept online, but then do not fill out DOE waiver, does your GC think electronic is enough to release from liability?

3) Do any other NPO/VHO's include language in a their waiver saying that "either waiver if accepted constitutes a full waiver of liability?" If not, do you think it would help cover the org?

Thanks -- trying to simplify our business process, and would like to get sense of what state of industry is right now.

David Nickelson, PsyD, JD

Director, Internet Strategy & Operations

American Diabetes Association