profile photo of Peter Jay, attorney and expert witness

PETER JAY, JD, MBA

 

Amusement Industry Safety & Operations Expert
Indoor Playgrounds | Trampoline Parks | Ziplines | Ropes & Challenge Courses
Contact info: (801) 372-3969, preferred email: peterj@mitexperts.com,
Address: Cedar Hills, Utah

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Peter Jay is an amusement industry operator, attorney, and ASTM F24 participant with over a decade of direct ownership and regulatory compliance experience in indoor playground and trampoline park operations. He is also a participant with the ACCT (International Association of Challenge Course Technology) and a member, contributor, and Certified Instructor and with the PRCA (Professional Ropes Course Association).

He combines:

  • 10 Years of Real-world attraction ownership and management
  • ASTM standards knowledge
  • Legal and regulatory expertise
  • Contractual and risk allocation analysis
  • Accident investigation and litigation support experience

Mr. Jay provides expert witness services in matters involving:

  • Soft-contained indoor playground systems
  • Trampoline parks (ASTM F2970)
  • Ziplines (ASTM F2959)
  • Ropes & challenge courses (PRCA / ACCT standards)
  • Operator training and supervision failures
  • Risk management and compliance breakdowns
  • Waiver enforceability and operational negligence

His experience as both a licensed attorney and amusement facility owner provides a unique perspective on foreseeability, industry standards, operational practices, and standard of care.

amusement park expert legal roller coaster loop

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • ASTM F24 Standards (Amusement Rides & Devices)
  • ASTM F2970 – Trampoline Courts
  • ASTM F2959 – Zipline Systems
  • ACCT & PRCA Challenge Course Standards
  • Soft-Contained Play Equipment Safety
  • Operator Training & Supervision

• Risk Management & Incident Response
• Building Code & Occupancy Compliance
• Injury Causation & Standard of Care Analysis
• Waivers, Assumption of Risk & Signage
• Corporate Governance & Safety Policies
• Manufacturer & Supplier Compliance

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

Peter Jay is a licensed attorney in the State of Utah (2010-present). He also has 9 years of experience in safety and compliance in the Amusement Industry, having owned and operated an indoor playground amusement park.

Founder & Owner – Coconut Cove Indoor Playground  

2015–2026

Founded and operated 4,000+ sq. ft. indoor playgrounds constructed from soft-contained play equipment with 2 locations and a franchise.

Responsibilities included:

  • Design collaboration with manufacturers
  • Building inspection compliance
  • ASTM compliance integration
  • Risk management systems
  • Staff training & supervision protocols
  • Incident documentation and response
  • Insurance coordination
  • Maintenance and inspection programs

The facility served approximately 275,000 visitors over nine years.

Direct operational experience includes:

  • Climbing structures
  • Slides
  • Enclosed play systems
  • Small trampoline features
  • Party/event hosting

This hands-on ownership experience provides practical knowledge of how safety protocols are actually implemented — and where failures commonly occur.

Trampoline Operations & Compliance Experience

Coconut Cove included trampoline features subject to ASTM F2970 standards.

Experience includes:

  • Court layout and padding requirements
  • Staff positioning and supervision ratios
  • Participant behavior control
  • High-risk maneuvers
  • Injury documentation
  • Manufacturer installation guidelines
  • Utah legislative adoption of ASTM standards
Zipline & Challenge Course Involvement
  • Active participant in ASTM F24
  • Member, PRCA (Professional Ropes Course Association)
  • Participant, ACCT (Association for Challenge Course Technology)

Working knowledge of:

  • Braking systems
  • Cable tension and loading
  • Platform design
  • Staff rescue protocols
  • Participant weight limitations
  • Training documentation standards
  • Inspection intervals
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Consults with industry manufacturers including Safer Designs on zipline braking systems and compliance practices.

STANDARDS & PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
  • ASTM F24 – Amusement Rides & Devices (Voting/Participating Member)
    • ASTM F2970 – Trampoline Court Task Group Participant
    • PRCA – Professional Ropes Course Association
    • ACCT – Association for Challenge Course Technology
    • IAAPA – International Association for Amusement Parks & Attractions
    • Utah State Bar – Active Member (since 2010)
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ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION & LITIGATION SUPPORT

Experience includes review and analysis of:

  • Zipline fatality cases
  • indoor playground injury claims
    • Trampoline park catastrophic injury matters
    • Operator negligence allegations
    • Failure to supervise claims
    • Equipment design defect allegations
    • Insurance denial disputes

Provides:

  • Expert reports
  • Standard of care analysis
  • Industry practice comparisons
  • Discovery assistance (ROGs, RFAs, RFP input)
  • Deposition testimony
  • Trial testimony
LEGAL BACKGROUND (RELEVANT TO EXPERT WORK)

Licensed Utah Attorney since 2010.

Former attorney, Utah Attorney General’s Office – Commercial Division
(Consumer Protection, Antitrust, Public Licensing)

Former General Counsel – digEcor (regulated aviation technology company)

Legal experience strengthens:

  • Regulatory interpretation
  • Compliance assessment
  • Contractual risk allocation analysis
  • Waiver enforceability review
  • Documentation standards evaluation
EDUCATION

Juris Doctor – University of Alabama School of Law 2009
Master of Business Administration – University of Alabama 2009

BA Political Science / International Relations Minors: Business & Russian – Brigham Young University 2009

 

SPEAKING & INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT

• PRCA Conference presentations
• Chamber of Commerce safety and business presentations

• University lectures on regulatory compliance and risk management
• Standards committee participation and commentary

EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES

Available for:

✔ Plaintiff representation
✔ Defense representation
✔ Pre-litigation case evaluation
✔ Risk assessments
✔ Facility audits
✔ Standard of care analysis
✔ Expert reports & testimony

Expert Witness
WHAT DIFFERENTIATES PETER JAY

Unlike career engineers or inspectors, Mr. Jay has:

  • Personally owned and operated an indoor amusement facility
  • Managed real-world staff and patron behavior
  • Implemented ASTM standards in daily operations
  • Navigated insurance, waivers, and injury response firsthand
  • Practiced law in regulatory and commercial litigation environments

He understands both how facilities are run — and how courts analyze failures.