Top 5 Central Florida theme park rides that draw lawsuits

[MM32830]

Sentinel Staff Report
March 29, 2009

Here are the top 5 Central Florida theme-park rides among those that have generated the most personal-injury lawsuits during the past 5 years. Eleven others — from Disney World's peaceful boat ride, It's a Small World, to SeaWorld's high-speed roller coaster, Kraken — have each attracted 2.

1. Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls, Universal Orlando. Lawsuits: 7.

2. Mission: Space, Epcot, simulator. Lawsuits: 5. Claims: Heart attack; cervical damage; unspecified other injuries involving ride movements.

3. The Black Hole, Wet 'n' Wild, water slide. Lawsuits: 3. Claims: Unspecified injuries (2 falls from tubes, 1 collision with another patron).

4. Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges, Islands of Adventure, river raft. Lawsuits: 3. Claims: Unspecified injuries (1 slip and fall, 2 involving restraint system).

5. Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Hollywood Studios. Lawsuits: 3. Claims: Aneurysm; stroke; unspecified injuries involving ride movements.

 

[OKW Lover]

Another wonderful job of reporting (the story, not the poster) that leaves out the most important bit of information that would tell the real story - how many of these suits did the plaintiff actually win?

 

[MM32830]

Another wonderful job of reporting (the story, not the poster) that leaves out the most important bit of information that would tell the real story - how many of these suits did the plaintiff actually win?

I wonder how many lawsuits are settled before going to court? Most settlements usually have non-disclosure agreements so getting this information would be difficult if not impossible.

Also, I wonder how many lawsuits are still pending?

Yep, the Orlando Sentinel could have done a better job reporting.



________________
Armand

 

[challer]

Yeah, this doesn't say much about the rides. More about the people who ride them.

There was a report in NY about the MD's with the most malpractice lawsuits against them. Most of them were cosmetic plastic surgeons. However, the list of those MD's who lost lawsuits were very different. Most likely the patients going into plastic surgery had unrealistic expectations about their cosmetic procedures, and wanted someone to blame for not meeting those expectations.

Disney is 2 of the top 5 - likely because they have a target on their back. (Although Mission: Space is troublesome...) See the Segway lawsuit....

 

[BriarRosie]

My all-time favorite lawsuit has to be the woman who claimed she suffered eardrum damage from the Hydrolators from the old Living Seas pavilion. Disney easily had that case dismissed by showing the judge and all parties involved how the effect actually worked.

I'm sure the woman felt like a total moron after that.

 

[MM32830]

Disney is 2 of the top 5 - likely because they have a target on their back. (Although Mission: Space is troublesome...) See the Segway lawsuit....

Another reason Disney is 2 of the top 5 is bigger Disney has more potential for being sued. With 4 theme parks, 2 water parks and several other areas, they have more exposure.



___________________
Armand

 

[OKW Lover]

I just wonder what the result would have been if the Sentinel compiled records of lawsuits against big box department stores, auto dealers, or even newspapers. We might find that theme parks are less lawsuit prone than other businesses. Of course, that wouldn't make news. Would it?

 

[MM32830]

The Orlando Sentinel just posted the 2nd part of this story. It is online at http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-themepark-injury-lawsuits-033009,0,5046537.story

I would have pasted the story here but instead I've given you the link because the story has a searchable database of all the area theme parks and the status of the lawsuit.

Also in the article are several related links that adds even more insight.

Interesting reading.....



________________
Armand

 

[dpuck1998]

My all-time favorite lawsuit has to be the woman who claimed she suffered eardrum damage from the Hydrolators from the old Living Seas pavilion. Disney easily had that case dismissed by showing the judge and all parties involved how the effect actually worked.

I'm sure the woman felt like a total moron after that.

Sounds like urban legand....is that story really true?

 

[Geef]

I think I found my favorite...

-----------------------------------
Att

Plaintiff claiming injury Machado, Samuel Rosario

Theme park defendant Walt Disney World

Location of incident Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom

Description of complaint A man said that, while in line with his family, he was humiliated and fainted when a ride attendant challenged his FastPass.
Background Rosario, of Puerto Rico, said he and his family were entering the Space Mountain FastPass line in the Magic Kingdom when an employee falsely accused him of not having a FastPass ticket, leading to an embarrassing encounter that caused him to faint. He sued Disney World on April 18, 2008, in U.S. District Court in Orlando for mishandling the situation and “tortuous conduct.”

Date of incident 20-Apr-06

Court U.S. District Court
Filing date 18-Apr-08

Quote “Mr. Rosario was humiliated and mistreated by the defendant’s employee, causing him to collapse and lose consciousness. Mr. Rosario suffered the syncope in front of his wife and three sons who started to cry and scream because they (thought) he had died... Needless to say that the family vacation was over.” — Narrative in Samuel Rosario Machado’s lawsuit complaint.

Defense Disney World never got a chance to respond.

Resolution The case was dismissed in a matter of weeks after Rosario failed to respond to a court request for more information.

Closure date 22-Jul-08
-----------------------------

as if that wasn't/isn't embarrassing.

 

[Geef]

Plaintiff claiming injury Mitten, Sally
Theme park defendant Walt Disney World
Location of incident Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom
Description of complaint A woman said she was injured when she suddenly fell off a slippery railing.
Date of incident 11-Mar-05
-----------------

What was she doing on the railing?!?

********************************************
Plaintiff claiming injury Morejon, Humberto
Theme park defendant Walt Disney World
Location of incident Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom
Description of complaint A man said he was falsely arrested after joking about a bomb at an entrance bag-check.
Date of incident 01-Jan-05
------------

What a joke... I find the outcome funny! (maybe he hasn't been told about 9/11)
************************************************

 

[BriarRosie]

Sounds like urban legand....is that story really true?

It's quite possible that it's an urban legend, but I know it's been perpetuated by the tour guides on the Backstage Magic tour. I remember my tour guide telling us the story in November, 1999.

 

[dpuck1998]

It's quite possible that it's an urban legend, but I know it's been perpetuated by the tour guides on the Backstage Magic tour. I remember my tour guide telling us the story in November, 1999.

Well if a CM said it j/k but you know they are full of it sometimes! Kinda like the urban legend of the person that used their cd-rom drive as a cup holder, every tech guy knows the person who knew the person that took the call...and it lives on.

 

[BriarRosie]

Well if a CM said it j/k but you know they are full of it sometimes! Kinda like the urban legend of the person that used their cd-rom drive as a cup holder, every tech guy knows the person who knew the person that took the call...and it lives on.

Oh, I totally don't believe most of the stuff cast members tell me, because I know many of them are clueless and misinformed. Think Disney bus drivers. They are the worst "offenders", IMHO.

But I felt that the tour guides who are given specific training to discuss some of these things would have a bit more credibility. It would be a shame if the tour guides all started talking about it as part of the tour because some other tour guide made it up.

 

[ericafny]

OK this thread is waaaaaaaaaaaaay too entertaining. I hope the mods don't shut it down!

 

[ericafny]

Ok this one is actually a little creepy: I am deleting the person's name for posting it on here but you can find it in the article on the Orlando Sentinel Website:

Att
Plaintiff claiming injury XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Theme park defendant Walt Disney World
Location of incident Walt Disney World's All Star Resort
Description of complaint A man said he developed a pseudomonas bacterium infection after he scraped his leg in a hotel pool.
Background XXXXXXX, who was 38 at the time, of Denver, said he developed a serious pseudomonas infection after scraping his leg on a rough pool wall surface in a hotel swimming pool at the Disney All Star Movie Resort on Jan. 26, 2002. He and his wife sued Disney World in Circuit Court in Orlando on Jan. 26, 2006.
Date of incident 26-Jan-02
Court State Circuit Court - Orlando
Filing date 26-Jan-06
Quote “Upon returning to his home in Denver, Colorado from the Disney resort, Mr. XXXXXX became extremely ill with a serious fever and pain in his left leg. His left leg had become red and purple from the knee to the ankle, was swollen, weeping and about two or three times its normal size.” — XXXXX’s description in his lawsuit complaint.
Defense Disney World said the incident was caused in whole or part by XXXXX’s carelessness and negligence.
Resolution As of March 15, 2009, the case was still active in court.
Closure date

 

[sau418]

I am so amused by this thread.

People never cease to amaze me.