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Disabled Man Trapped in Disneyland’s ‘Small World’ Ride Awarded $8,000

By Renee Nordstrand on April 8, 2013

Apparently, it was a small world for a 52-year-old paraplegic Los Angeles man who filed a lawsuit against Disneyland after he was stuck on the “Small World” ride for 30 minutes after the ride broke down. A Santa Ana jury recently awarded him $8,000 in damages as a result of the mishap.

According to the plaintiff’s attorney, his client had come to Disneyland in Anaheim with his wife for the first time since he was a child, and had been enjoying the day until he got on the “Small World” ride. When the ride broke down, everybody was evacuated, except for the plaintiff.

“They started evacuating other guests and weren’t evacuating him,” his attorney told The Los Angeles Times. They said they couldn’t move him out of the cave … They didn’t summon the Fire Department right away.”

During the time he was trapped on the ride, the repetitive “Small World” theme music continued to play. Once he was extricated, he needed medical assistance.

The jury awarded the disabled man $4,000 for pain and suffering and $4,000 related to disabled access violations. A Disneyland spokeswoman expressed disappointment with the jury’s decision and stated that the company felt it had provided “all appropriate assistance.”

The plaintiff’s attorney told the Times that his client had been enjoying the day at the park and access had not been an issue, until it “hit him hard and right in the face as soon as the ride broke down.”

It is a company’s duty to assure that their property is properly maintained so patrons do not suffer injuries while on the premises. Premises liability covers many different areas, including amusement park accidents. The Southern California amusement park accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Reneé J. Nordstrand will provide the necessary resources you will need to successfully litigate a premises liability suit.

If you have questions about your legal options, we can be reached online or you can call us at our Santa Barbara office at (805) 962-2022, or our Encino office at (818) 981-3530, for a free review of your case.