A Disneyland guest has claimed that an actor dressed as the popular character Goofy fell on him during a trip to the park, causing permanent injuries.
On April 3, 2022, Katrina Griffin was at Disney California Adventure Park with her daughter when a “traumatic” experience occurred. SF Gate reported. It cited a lawsuit filed in Orange County Superior Court.
Griffin reportedly bent down to tie her daughter’s shoelaces when the Goofy character “walked directly at her,” causing her daughter to fall onto “hard cement.”
The lawsuit, filed in late March, alleges the mascot then fell on top of Griffin “with his entire body weight.”
The lawsuit alleges that Griffin suffered “severely traumatic, debilitating, and permanent injuries that required significant medical treatment” after the accident.
Griffin did not mention a specific list of his injuries.
The suit names Disneyland, an actor in a Goofy suit, and the mascot’s “handler” as co-defendants.
Disney park employees are assigned to serve as mascot “handlers” to ensure all guests can safely interact with the characters.
Handlers also act as interpreters for costumed workers who cannot speak, including Goofy.
According to SFGate, Griffin claimed that her handlers failed to prevent her from colliding with the character.
Both cast members are not identified in the lawsuit, instead listed as “John Doe 1” and “John Doe 2.” According to KTLA.
The injured guests are seeking a jury trial for damages for medical expenses and loss of income, the newspaper said.
She is also seeking damages for negligence, claiming her injuries “result in some permanent disability.”
A case management conference is scheduled for September 4th.
Disney World in Florida has filed a personal injury lawsuit after a woman claims she was seriously injured after being “severely trapped” on a waterslide.
Emma McGuinness visited Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon for her 30th birthday in October 2019 and jumped off the nearly vertical 214-foot Humunga Cowabunga at high speed.
Mr McGuinness claimed he became airborne near the end of the slide when he “tumbled downwards”.
The impact of the slide “pushed her swimsuit painfully between her legs and forced the water violently into her.” The lawsuit obtained by WKMG alleges:.
Riders without rafts or tubes can reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour on the slide.
