Disney is facing a serious lawsuit after a waterslide ride resulted in a woman sustaining severe and permanent injuries. The suit, filed in the Circuit Court for Orange County, Florida, pertains to a distressing incident that took place at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park in Lake Buena Vista, Florida in 2019 (Above the Law) .
In particular, the lawsuit accuses Disney of negligence and asserts that the company was aware or should have known about the risk of harm, especially to women. As a result, the plaintiffs demand compensatory damages in excess of $50,000.
The episode subjected victim Emma McGuinness to a life-altering experience. After taking a ride down the 214-foot Humunga Kowabunga water slide, she endured a horrifying injury when water was forcefully driven inside her. The injuries were so acute that she had to be rushed from one hospital to another, finally ending up under the care of a doctor specializing in severe gynecologic trauma. (CNN) .
According to the lawsuit documentation, Disney allegedly failed to deliver various safety measures. Among these were providing protective clothing like shorts for the slide, alerting McGuinness and other women regarding the risks involved, and other potential design and safety failures. The claim also specifies that despite McGuinness adopting the instructed position, with her ankles crossed, she became airborne, which further increased the likelihood of such an injury.
This catastrophic incident not only shifts focus to safety measures, or the lack thereof in amusement parks, but also raises major questions around accountability, particularly in the case of large corporations like Disney. Ultimately, the McGuinness couple is seeking a jury trial, an approach often preferred when battling formidable opponents, as impartial jurors may be more likely to deliver justice over mediators or arbitrators.