LOS ANGELES — A California federal jury awarded $7.25 million to a 74-year-old woman from Arizona who sustained a severe spinal injury after falling at Universal Studios Hollywood. The incident occurred in September 2022 when Pamela Morrison was trying to exit the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, following a malfunction with her safety harness.
Morrison, who was visiting the theme park with her grandson, was instructed to leave her seat after the ride’s harness did not secure properly. As she attempted to step from the moving walkway onto a stationary platform, she slipped and fell, her lawsuit stated, resulting in a spinal compression fracture.
The fall occurred under circumstances where the moving walkway continued to operate as Morrison was exiting, her lawyer, Taylor Kruse, explained. He highlighted that stopping the walkway for a brief spell would have taken only about four seconds, which could have potentially prevented Morrison’s accident. Kruse criticized the ride operators for prioritizing the ride’s efficiency over guest safety, aiming to maintain a capacity of 1,800 riders per hour.
During the trial, attorneys for Universal Studios Hollywood contended that Morrison was not paying sufficient attention to her steps because she was distracted by her grandson. This argument positioned the blame for the fall on Morrison herself.
Following a three-day trial and four hours of deliberations on February 14, the jury sided with Morrison, attributing fault to the theme park for the hazardous conditions that led to her fall. The jury’s breakdown of the award included $250,000 for anticipated future medical costs, $2 million for past pain and suffering, and a substantial $5 million for future pain and suffering.
“The fall changed her whole life,” Kruse remarked after the verdict, believing the jury’s decision to be a fair result reflecting the severity of Morrison’s ongoing difficulties since the accident.
Universal Studios Hollywood has been reached out to for comment regarding the jury’s decision but has not responded at the time of reporting.
This article reflects a legal conclusion of an incident involving a visitor’s severe injury at a major entertainment venue, raising questions about the safety measures in such amusement settings, particularly regarding the operation of moving walkways and the training of employees in emergency procedures.
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