Floridian Individual Files Lawsuit Against Disney After Forced Removal from Water Attraction
A bloke named Eugene Strickland decided to take Disney to court, claiming he was left with some serious injuries after a wild ride on the Downhill Double Dipper waterslide at Blizzard Beach in 2021.
Strickland, who tipped the scales at a hefty 334 pounds (yep, that's over the weight limit for the slide), is alleging that Disney's cavalier approach to safety caused his misfortune. His legal team is going after Walt Disney Parks and Resorts for damages exceeding $50,000.
The incident in question happened back in July 2021. Strickland claims he was dislodged from his ride tube during the ride due to the slide's "thrill-seeking speeds." As a result, he landed hard on the slide's plastic surface, leading to various physical injuries like disabilities, scars, disfigurement, and emotional trauma such as mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life.
Leading personal injury lawyer John Morgan from Morgan & Morgan shared the details with CBS News. Morgan plans to ensure Disney is held accountable for their alleged negligence. According to the lawsuit, Disney knew about the potential risks involved in the slide's design but failed to take necessary precautions or inform riders about these dangers.
Adding to the list of grievances, the lawsuit states that the park allowed unrestricted use of an unsafe high-speed water slide and ignored its own safety policies while letting Strickland ride. The complaint also cites multiple instances of negligence throughout the park, including inadequate staff training.
The lawsuit notes that Strickland's injuries are permanent and ongoing. The legal filing adds that Disney had a duty of care towards Strickland, which it violated through its negligence.
Going further, the lawsuit provides numerous instances of alleged negligence within the park, ranging from improved staff training to addressing hidden hazards that led to Strickland's injuries.
Sources:
- The Orlando Sentinel: "Man Sues Disney Over Water Park Ride Injuries"
- Newsweek: "Florida Man Sues Disney World Over Injuries on Water Slide at Blizzard Beach"
- CBS News: "Florida Man Sues Walt Disney World Over 'Permanent Catastrophic Injuries'"
- New York Post: "334-Pound Man Sues Disney for Being ejected from Waterslide"
- NBC News: "Walt Disney World Sued Over Alleged Injury on Water Slide"
- Eugene Strickland, a man seeking compensation for personal injury, claims Walt Disney Parks and Resorts failed to ensure his safety on the Downhill Double Dipper waterslide at Blizzard Beach, resulting in accidents that led to permanent physical injuries and mental-health issues.
- In the aftermath of his experience on the water slide in July 2021, Strickland accuses Disney of ignoring the potential risks associated with the slide's design, as well as their own safety policies, which led to his accidental ejection and subsequent injuries.
- The lawsuit further alleges that Disney's negligence extends beyond Strickland's specific incident, encompassing inadequate staff training and ignored hidden hazards throughout the park, raising concerns about the park's overall health-and-wellness and crime-and-justice protocols.
- As the case develops, sources report that the lawsuit aims to hold Disney accountable for their actions, potentially setting a precedent for subsequent health-and-wellness and safety concerns within Disney parks and general-news outlets alike.
