Suit: Disney's Tower of Terror gave British teen heart attack, stroke

[donsullivan]

From today's Orlando Sentinel

Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writer
February 12, 2009
A British woman sued Walt Disney World on Wednesday, alleging that a disabling heart attack and stroke she suffered in 2005 were caused by riding on Disney's Tower of Terror.

Leanne Deacon, now 19, and her mother, June Deacon, both of Kibworth, England, filed the lawsuit in state Circuit Court in Orlando, seeking at least $15,000.

The thrill ride opened in 1994 in what is now called Disney's Hollywood Studios, with a theme based on the classic fantasy-suspense TV show The Twilight Zone. Visitors ride in a "hotel elevator" that zooms up, then plunges down, over and over.

Leanne Deacon rode it several times during a 2005 vacation, when she was 16.

Shortly after a ride on July 12, 2005, her heart stopped and she had a brain hemorrhage.

The Deacons accuse Disney of negligence in the ride's design and operation and in failure to adequately warn of risks or provide adequate safety restraints.

They also say Disney was operating the ride as a "common carrier" -- invoking a legal doctrine that would impose tougher liability standards in court than Florida theme-park companies usually are asked to meet regarding thrill-ride safety.

"The Defendant, acting as a common carrier, was required to use reasonable skill to provide everything necessary for safe transportation," the lawsuit asserts.

Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty said the company could not respond to specifics because it had not yet seen the lawsuit.

However, Prunty said the ride was functioning properly at the time Deacon was riding it.

The Deacons' Orlando lawyer, Robert Melton, also would not comment.

After the 2005 incident, Disney World conducted a detailed inspection, monitored by state agents, of the Tower of Terror ride. It determined nothing had malfunctioned and then reopened the attraction.

Scott Powers can be reached at spowers@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5441.

 

[Timmay]

From today's Orlando Sentinel:
The Deacons accuse Disney of negligence in the ride's design and operation and in failure to adequately warn of risks or provide adequate safety restraints.

You can't swing a dead cat without hitting one of the health-risk advisory signs.:brick:

 

[Auroragirl]

You can't swing a dead cat without hitting one of the health-risk advisory signs.:brick:

Tell me about it.... I get sick of reading the same sign.... for what feels like, 100 times; while in line for that ride!!!!!!!!!!

 

[KevGuy]

Just another money hungry person trying to get over on Disney hoping the will settle. I hope it gets tossed from the courts.:zipit:

 

[hokielutz]

Tell me about it.... I get sick of reading the same sign.... for what feels like, 100 times; while in line for that ride!!!!!!!!!!

Who says you have to read it.... they also tell you the warnings.


As much as I hate to say it, Leanne probably had some underlying condition that she didn't know about. I'm sorry that her condition deteriorated after experiencing the ride several times, but the ride was probably not the root cause.

Oh well.... at least these stories keep Scott Powers employed at the Sentinel.

 

[MissM]

I don't know. $15,000 hardly seems like a huge amount for a lawsuit. If they were asking for 1.5 million or something, well...that'd just be greed. But 15k? That's hardly a drop in the hat for a lawsuit. Perhaps they just want to get back out-of-pocket medical costs?

Either way, I don't know these people and I don't know their case, so I will reserve judgment and not say it's right or it's wrong.

 

[Tom]

From today's Orlando Sentinel

Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writer
February 12, 2009
A British woman sued Walt Disney World on Wednesday, alleging that a disabling heart attack and stroke she suffered in 2005 were caused by riding on Disney's Tower of Terror.

Leanne Deacon, now 19, and her mother, June Deacon, both of Kibworth, England, filed the lawsuit in state Circuit Court in Orlando, seeking at least $15,000.

The thrill ride opened in 1994 in what is now called Disney's Hollywood Studios, with a theme based on the classic fantasy-suspense TV show The Twilight Zone. Visitors ride in a "hotel elevator" that zooms up, then plunges down, over and over.

Leanne Deacon rode it several times during a 2005 vacation, when she was 16.

Shortly after a ride on July 12, 2005, her heart stopped and she had a brain hemorrhage.

The Deacons accuse Disney of negligence in the ride's design and operation and in failure to adequately warn of risks or provide adequate safety restraints.

They also say Disney was operating the ride as a "common carrier" -- invoking a legal doctrine that would impose tougher liability standards in court than Florida theme-park companies usually are asked to meet regarding thrill-ride safety.

"The Defendant, acting as a common carrier, was required to use reasonable skill to provide everything necessary for safe transportation," the lawsuit asserts.

Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty said the company could not respond to specifics because it had not yet seen the lawsuit.

However, Prunty said the ride was functioning properly at the time Deacon was riding it.

The Deacons' Orlando lawyer, Robert Melton, also would not comment.

After the 2005 incident, Disney World conducted a detailed inspection, monitored by state agents, of the Tower of Terror ride. It determined nothing had malfunctioned and then reopened the attraction.

Scott Powers can be reached at spowers@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5441.

I hate people.

 

[sknydave]

I don't know. $15,000 hardly seems like a huge amount for a lawsuit. If they were asking for 1.5 million or something, well...that'd just be greed. But 15k? That's hardly a drop in the hat for a lawsuit. Perhaps they just want to get back out-of-pocket medical costs?

Either way, I don't know these people and I don't know their case, so I will reserve judgment and not say it's right or it's wrong.

They say in excess of $15k because it is the minimum amount for a case like this. Whether they were suing for 15,001 or 150 million, it would say "in excess of 15k."

 

[Figment632]

It is sad that he is dead but if he had a condition Disney should not have to pay a cent. I hate dumb lawsuits like this and people like this make me sick. :fork:

 

[optjay]

Who died?

 

[archangel2790]

This is stupid. There are signs everywhere, not just on that ride, but ALL of the more intense rides. If she had a condition that was previously undiagnosed, sorry, but that's really not Disney's problem.

I think if it was me at Disney, I'd send a letter of condolence, but also a denial of responsibility.

 

[goofyfan13]

Disney failed to provide adequate warnings of the risks associated with Tower of Terror? What is this lady blind AND deaf? :brick:

 

[WDWmazprty]

Disney failed to provide adequate warnings of the risks associated with Tower of Terror? What is this lady blind AND deaf? :brick:

She is now, the screaming of all the people on the ride with her, along with the sudden changes of light and dark has made her now blinda and deaf! :ROFLOL::ROFLOL::ROFLOL:

What sucks is , she could probably sue for that too, and win! :hurl:

 

[WDW1974]

The sad thing about suits like this is they take respectability out of other legal actions against The Mouse ... there are things that Disney does that should have it in court.

This woman's situation, no matter how sad, was much like the folks who died on Mission Space -- no one's fault.

The human body is complex and sometimes breaks down in ways you can't predict.

I don't think anyone would say ToT isn't incredibly safe.

Space Mountain ... well, I won't be riding ...

 

[hardcard]

hmm, thats funny.. my 4 year old has ridden ToT 47 times in the past 7 months, and she's fine..


Go figure.:hammer:



and for the record... SM is perfectly safe... just keep your arms inside the car..

 

[HMF]

Yay' another ridiculous lawsuit.:lookaroun

 

[MissM]

They say in excess of $15k because it is the minimum amount for a case like this. Whether they were suing for 15,001 or 150 million, it would say "in excess of 15k."

Not to be nit-picky, but the article doesn't use that term at all. It says "seeking at least $15,000." That's what made me think it was a relatively small amount for a lawsuit.

 

[IcicleM]

I hate people.

I concur

 

[sknydave]

Not to be nit-picky, but the article doesn't use that term at all. It says "seeking at least $15,000." That's what made me think it was a relatively small amount for a lawsuit.

How exactly are "at least $15,000" and "in excess of $15,000" so different?

 

[PhotoDave219]

Just another money hungry person trying to get over on Disney hoping the will settle. I hope it gets tossed from the courts.:zipit:

Uh Dude... the girls a Vegetable for the rest of her life. Imagine having a 16 year old that got all Shivo-ed on you while you were on holiday.

That's hardly someone who is money hungry.

Y'all a bunch of heartless ________________. Its not Disney's fault but they bear some sense of responsibility.