Jury Awards No Damages for Fight at Tea Cups

[jcb]

The Sentinel is reporting that a jury has found Disney negligent in connection with that May 2007 fight in the Mad Hatter's Tea Party but awarded no damages.

The Sentinel did not explain why the jury refused to award damages.

WDWinfo.com has posted a number of stores about the incident, if for some reason, you have blocked it from your memory:

This article quotes the victim as explaining why she faults Disney for the attack: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/Theme_P...ney_Bungled_Case_Of_Tempest_In_Tea_C_1496.htm

This article notes the filing of the lawsuit: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/Theme_P...n_Mad_Tea_Cup_Party_assault_to_sue_Disney.htm

Other articles about the criminal prosecution:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/Theme_Parks_Attractions/Defendant_testifies_in_Mad_Tea_Cup_trial.htm

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/Theme_Parks_Attractions/Mad_Tea_Cup_Party_sentence_announced.htm

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/Theme_P...ht_in_Magic_Kingdom_Mad_Tea_Party_at_1795.htm

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/Theme_Parks_Attractions/Mad_Tea_Party_assailant_completes_jail_term.htm

 

[dpic]

Walker contends that Krause incited this incident with the goal of seeking monetary compensation. She stated "And I believe if it hadn't have been me, it would have been somebody else. She was looking for a victim, and that's my honest belief. It's a sad thing when a person would try to ruin another person's life just to get money."

This is from the last article above. In other words, "if I didn't kick her butt and try to kill her, she would have found someone else to do it..."

After 45 day in the clink, that's the best she could come up with? 45 days is a pretty stiff sentence, what's wrong with "I was wrong" and move on? Oh, bother...

 

[jcb]

The Sentinel has expanded its original story with more salacious details:

Disney contended in court documents that Krause [the victim] has a repeated history of violent behavior, including for battering her husband, being suspended from high school six times for fighting, and has an extensive history of anger management issues at her child's school.

* * *

According to Sheriff's Office reports released in 2007, Walker [the attacker] was in line at the ride with her daughter, then 11 years old. Krause had her children, who were then 6 and 7, and a friend's two children with her in line.
Deputies reported that Walker yelled, cussed and shoved two children with Krause as they waited.

Walker told deputies Krause elbowed her as they moved through the line and then hit her again. Then, Walker said, Krause "kicked backwards" and struck her.

Krause had just put the second pair of children in a teacup when Walker kicked her from behind.

The Sheriff's Office report said Walker then grabbed Krause from behind and began beating her.

All at the happiest place on Earth.

 

[disneydaddyo]

If this all happened after the Tea Cups ride I could understand losing your mind but not before.

 

[jcb]

I like this statement from wftv: "The trial lasted for eight days. It took the jury three hours to make its decision." At least the jurors have some common sense.

 

[lugnut33]

So, who is paying all the lawyer fees?

 

[kaligal]

I totally believe that Disney would allow one customer to beat another and attempt to brush it all under the rug.

I can see them quietly allowing witnesses to move along and delaying calls to the police in order to keep the beaten person from going public with it. I'm honestly impressed that they even held the person who committed the crime. I wouldn't even blink if I heard they'd let the criminal go.

It isn't Disney's fault that some wacky woman started to hit someone else. But it is totally their fault that the cops weren't called. 40 minutes is just waaaay too long.

I don't usually side against Disney when these lawsuits come up, but I do here.

They should have helped the victim as much as they could and shame on them for not doing it.

One day, they will find themselves in court with loads of evidence to the fact that they actively avoid helping victims...and they'll pay.