It seems Disney is facing yet another lawsuit involving their Walt Disney World theme park. A guest from Pennsylvania is suing Disney over injuries she claimed were received due to a stampede of people on Main Street U.S.A.
Debra O’Steen was visiting the park on June 25, 2024. O’Steen claims that the park was “packed and extremely busy” when a crowd rushed her going as they were headed to an unnamed event.
“Defendant was having an event starting soon and a crowd of people rushed Plaintiff and knocked her over in a stampede in the Main Street.”
The suit filed in Orange County by her attorneys at Morgan & Morgan claim that this incident led to “permanent injuries,” which include “permanent injury to her body,” lost wages, and “loss of ability to lead and enjoy a normal life.”
It’s further claimed that her damages are permanent and will cause her to suffer in the future.
O’Steen’s attorneys further argue that Disney was at fault for being negligent in keeping the crowds controlled and the are safe. They also say Disney did not adequately warn about the dangers of crowds.
In a further twist to the case, the defendant has claimed she was a “business invitee” indicating that she was there to do business with the landowner. It’s unclear what type of business she was there for, but if true, Florida requires landowners to make business invitees aware of danger according to Law and Crime,
“Florida, like most states, affords the greatest degree of legal protection to business invitees and requires landowners to correct or warn business invitees of known dangers. Landowners are also expected to maintain premises in reasonably safe condition, and to warn business invitees about dangers that a reasonable visitor might not recognize.”
Morgan & Morgan are asking for a trial by jury, so it will be interesting to see how this goes. Disney’s lawyers recently tried to force arbitration in a wrongful death lawsuit, but have since withdrawn that. If O’Steen agreed to terms of service for Disney+ or the Walt Disney World app, could Disney once again push for arbitration?
What do you think? Comment and let us know!
Sources: Fox 35 Orlando, Law and Crime
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