LOS ANGELES — A California jury has recently awarded a hefty sum of $7.25 million to a 74-year-old woman from Arizona following a serious accident at Universal Studios Hollywood. The incident occurred on the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, when the woman suffered a severe spinal injury that drastically altered her life.
Pamela Morrison, the plaintiff, experienced a dangerous fall in September 2022 while she was attempting to exit the ride with her grandson. She was allegedly asked to leave the seat after the safety harness did not lock properly. According to her claims, she slipped while transitioning from the moving walkway to a stationary platform, resulting in a spinal compression fracture.
Morrison’s lawyer, Taylor Kruse, contended during the trial that the theme park staff did not stop the moving walkway to ensure Morrison’s safe exit. According to Kruse, pausing the walkway would have taken only four seconds and could have prevented the accident. He criticized the theme park for prioritizing ride efficiency over guest safety, as the ride was designed to accommodate 1,800 riders per hour.
The defense argued that Morrison’s fall was due to her own lack of attention as she was more focused on her grandson rather than her footing. However, after a three-day trial and four hours of deliberation, the jury sided with Morrison, finding Universal Studios Hollywood culpable for the accident due to unsafe conditions.
Morrison was awarded $250,000 for future medical costs, $2 million for past pain and suffering, and an additional $5 million for future pain and suffering.
The verdict has sparked a broader conversation about safety protocols at amusement parks and the responsibilities of such venues to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their guests. Experts in theme park operations suggest that incidents like these could inspire more stringent safety measures and potentially lead to changes in how attractions are operated, focusing more on safety than throughput.
There has been no response from Universal Studios Hollywood at the moment regarding the verdict or their plans for appealing the decision.
The incident and subsequent trial highlight the ongoing challenges and safety concerns present in theme parks, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement in operational protocols to prevent such events in the future.
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