Los Angeles, CA — A day that began with enchantment at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter turned tragic for an Arizona grandmother, resulting in a federal court in California awarding her $7.25 million in damages. The incident occurred in September 2022 when Pamela Morrison, 74, sustained severe spinal injuries after falling while exiting the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride at Universal Studios Hollywood.
According to court testimony, Morrison was trying to disembark from the ride after her safety harness malfunctioned. The transition from the ride’s moving walkway to the stationary platform caused her to lose her balance and fall, severely injuring her spine. Morrison recalled the perilous moment in court, noting that her instability was exacerbated by the still-moving belt.
During the trial, Morrison’s attorney, Taylor Kruse, argued that the theme park employees failed to stop the moving walkway to ensure her safe exit. Kruse contended that such an action was not only necessary but also simple and feasible, and would have prevented the accident. However, he suggested that the park’s priority was to maintain the flow of the ride, which targets a capacity of 1,800 riders per hour.
Surveillance footage played a pivotal role in the case, capturing the few seconds of Morrison’s fall. The defense argued that Morrison was distracted by her grandson at the time of the accident and not paying adequate attention to her steps. They claimed she did not exercise the caution that a reasonable person would have under similar circumstances.
Despite the defense’s argument, the jury sided with Morrison, concluding that Universal Studios Hollywood had created unsafe conditions that led to her fall and subsequent injuries. Safety expert Ban Choi supported this view, stating in court that the ride’s design inherently posed a danger. He highlighted the difficulties posed by stepping laterally from a moving walkway onto a stable surface, which he said disrupts a pedestrian’s walking stability more than moving longitudinally along the walkway.
Injuries while boarding or disembarking amusement park rides are not uncommon. An analysis found that such incidents make up roughly one in every eight accident reports at Southern California theme parks.
After the accident, Morrison required ambulance transport to a local hospital, facing significant medical expenses. She endured a fractured lower back and a severe tear in the muscles around her hip, impacting her movement and stability.
The jury awarded Morrison $250,000 for economic damages, $2 million for past non-economic damages, and $5 million for future non-economic damages, recognizing the profound impact of the injuries on her quality of life.
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