A Carbon County jury panel ruled in favor of the defendant in a suit for damages stemming from a snow-tubing accident at a county ski resort.

Linda and Robert Ricco, of 182 Suffolk Ave., Staten Island, New York, sued JFBB Ski Area Inc. and Peak Resorts Inc. of Route 940, operators of the Big Boulder Ski Area in Lake Harmony.The panel listened to two days of testimony in the case before reaching its verdict.The suit, filed in 2014, said that on March 23, 2013, Linda Ricco and her family, were at the ski resort snow-tubing.Ricco said when she reached the bottom of the hill, the mats placed to slow down and stop the snow tube failed to stop her. The snow tube proceeded across the mats up a hill and struck a support pole causing her to suffer "severe and disabling injuries," the suit alleged.The Riccos alleged negligence against the resort for the incident and the injuries Linda Ricco sustained and were detailed in the action.The case was bifurcated by presiding Judge Steven R. Serfass. The jury only had to decide if the defendants were liable for the injuries Linda Ricco sustained. The panel ruled that the defendants were not liable. Had the panel ruled the defendants were liable, then another jury panel would have been selected at a later date to decide the amount of damages to be awarded.The Riccos were represented by the law firm of Mattise & Kelly of Scranton. The resort was represented by attorney Anthony Hinkle of Blue Bell.The Riccos have 10 days to appeal the decision.