Charges pressed against psycho guests

[TinkerMouse]

I keep reading about guests physically attacking cast members. This combined with the fact that crazy people sue Disney over stupid things all the time makes me wonder.

If a cast member is attacked by some psycho guest like the guy who threw his baby at the innocent WDW bus driver or the crazy wheel chair lady who stabbed the Disneyland Alice with a pen so that she had to get stitches does Disney fire the cast members if they press charges against the crazies? I wonder this because you hear of all of these terrible things happening to cast members but you never hear of them pressing charges. Is this because Disney will fire you for trying to protect yourself against those people? Do you get fired quicker if you're a CP participant because they're apparently "worth" less than full timers? If so, that's just wrong that the company would sacrifice the safety of its innocent employees like that.

If Disney were to fire you for pressing charges against the psychos who endanger your life isn't that a lawsuit in and of itself? Why would they fire you when you didn't involve them in your police statement?

Wouldn't a cast member being successful with defending himself from awful guests scare other potentially awful guests away from doing terrible things. If you knew you could get charged or sued for wrong doings wouldn't you be less inclined to commit them, and stop thinking that Disney will cater to your ridiculous feel of self-entitlement or are you just too crazy for rational thought and that's why you stab people and throw your child at people in the first place?

 

[eadavis]

My current role within WDW doesn't place me in position where this would be an issue, however, I work on the side at House of Blues at Downtown Disney in their concert hall. The "operating participants" and their employees are considered part of the Disney Family,and has to abide by all of the Disney rules, that being said. If altercations happen where the employee is injured, any medical needs stemming from that situation are covered in full.

Pressing charges is different, there was an instance where an altercation happened, while trying to break it up, I was punched several times causing me get a little bloodied. I decided to press charges against my assailant. Month's down the road I receive a call from the State Attourney's office saying that they are dropping them due to a lack of evidence (there are even security cameras).

If in a character performing role, pressing charges will not be prohibited, but more than likely be frowned upon, imagine the headline, "Princess Cinderella sues local Mom." While Disney wants to protect it's Cast Members, it also wants to protect its public image, the local media will do anything to gain viewers/readers. There was a homicide in a town 5 miles from the parks, headlines were reading "Murder in the Town that Disney Built." Case in Point

 

[TinkerMouse]

Ok, thanks. That makes sense. So if your assailant actually injures you then Disney will pay for it all? That sounds easy and fair for them to do.

What? Charges were dropped due to lack of evidence? Does this mean that the security footage was withheld from the office? I thought withholding that kind of evidence was illegal. Other than that I don't see how they could call video footage lack of evidence.

I figured that pressing charges would be frowned upon but I wanted to know if people were afraid of getting fired if they did. In this situation what exactly do they mean by "frowned upon," does it mean you'll get a lot of dirty looks from management from time to time or will you not get promoted? In which case a promotion is prevented do you now have to find evidence to prove the unfairness? This just seems unethical to punish victims.

I think that people would laugh or react somewhat positively to reading a headline about a character suing some irrational person. I think it would make them think twice about this idea that people have about Disney being an easy target. You wouldn't attack something if you knew it could fight back.

 

[eadavis]

Safety is an important part of working within the Disney Family, if a Cast Member is hurt on the clock, their medical needs are covered, with my situation, I was lucky enough to not need aide.

As for the "dirty looks," on the night of my incident, I pressed charges after consulting with my manager, it was their recommendation as well.

Part of working for WDW as a CP is constant communication with management. I find it best to heed their advice and not to ruffle any feathers. In the unlikely event that you find yourself injured as a result of a guest, there will more than like be a manager on the scene, go with their recommendation.

 

[Raindown]

Month's down the road I receive a call from the State Attourney's office saying that they are dropping them due to a lack of evidence (there are even security cameras).

No civil suit?

If a cast member is attacked by some psycho guest like the guy who threw his baby at the innocent WDW bus driver or the crazy wheel chair lady who stabbed the Disneyland Alice with a pen so that she had to get stitches does Disney fire the cast members if they press charges against the crazies?

I bet you'd be surprised about people's knowledge of legal proceedings. I would not doubt that often people don't know what actions are available.

 

[eadavis]

No civil suit?

No need really, he spent the night in jail, spend a few thousand to get out, and is no longer allowed on property owned by the Walt Disney Company for the rest of his life. Justice enough for me

 

[TinkerMouse]

No need really, he spent the night in jail, spend a few thousand to get out, and is no longer allowed on property owned by the Walt Disney Company for the rest of his life. Justice enough for me

I agree. Now I feel better about what could happen.

I bet you'd be surprised about people's knowledge of legal proceedings. I would not doubt that often people don't know what actions are available.

That makes sense too. If people don't know what's going on or fully understand what can be done then obviously nothing is going to happen. The same applies if people just don't care and let things go easily. Thanks.