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Facility Management Law School (FMLS) — Where a Tort isn't a layered dessert

By Kayla McKinley posted 11-16-2012 16:59

  
You walk up to a pair of enormous gray metal doors – Stage 17 sprayed across each. A burst of unnaturally cool air rushes past as you open one and step through into the darkness. Across the expansive gray concrete floors you see a brightly lit kitchen, white cabinets gleaming. Martha Stewart stands behind a sink deftly scrubbing a potato. She walks towards you and you realize, without words, that she expects you to bake a Dobos Torte. Your heart begins racing and you begin to perspire. You are not a pastry chef, and you don't even know how a Dobos Torte should taste. 

Like a vivid Martha Stewart nightmare, being placed in an unfamiliar setting or doing something out of your comfort zone can cause dread and apprehension. For many venue managers this anxiety can be created by a number of legal situations required as part of a venue manager's job including: executing a contract, handling a slip and fall situation, dealing with property damage, on the job injuries, or being asked to give a deposition. 

That's why Steve Adelman, Esq., Scottsdale, Arizona attorney, venue safety expert and IAVM member since 2006, decided to offer his expertise to IAVM's Facility Management Law School. Adelman saw that, like being asked to cook for Martha Stewart, many venue managers find extra stress in the legal situations they are required to handle as part of their operational duties. Adelman says, "In my experience working with venues and their security providers, it seems that most people who run even large facilities have little contact with an attorney who understands the buildings, events, or crowd dynamics you routinely face." 

This February 21, 2013, in conjunction with IAVM's Academy for Venue Safety & Security (AVSS) which takes place February 17-22, 2013 in Dallas, Adelman will walk FMLS and AVSS students through a day-long legal training, designed specifically for venue professionals. During the class, Adelman will guide students through legal terminology and explain torts, contracts, risk management and the litigation process. 

Adelman says when it comes to written deals, most agreements are actually contracts. "It doesn't have to be a signed document to be a contract," Adelman says. The law understands it to be a contract if it contains three things: an offer, acceptance of that offer, and consideration in the form of a payment or consent to exchange something. 

In addition, Adelman takes FMLS students through an actual mock deposition. One of the best ways to overcome the stress of a legal situation is to practice and be exposed to the language of the law. Much like following a recipe, being able to know what steps the deposition process will take, and having a rudimentary understanding of the legal process can make life easier for venue managers required to testify. First, Adelman demystifies the process – describes the setting, and the roles each party plays in the deposition. Then he coaches venue managers on how to answer a question. "Answer only what is asked," Adelman says. Finally, Adelman leaves students with his 10 Deposition Rules including, "The other lawyer is not your friend" and "Do not try to be helpful." To hear the rest, you'll have to attend! 

AVSS and FMLS are vital courses for venue managers regardless of the type of venue they work for. Make plans to attend this year's academy and the law school. Apply today to attend FMLS and AVSS.
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