Trouble in Disneyland!
A complaint claims that Disneyland employees made fun of a 66-year-old disabled lady before she fell from the Jungle Cruise ride and died from septic shock five months later.
RELATED STORIES
Swipe to see more.
The Wrongful Death Lawsuit
The wrongful death lawsuit was brought by Joanne Aguilar’s family in Ventura County, California, in the autumn. A judge was appointed to the case early this month. The Walt Disney Company, its theme park division, and Disneyland are all named as defendants in the complaint.
Where It All Started
The complaint, which The New York Post was able to obtain, claims that on August 21, 2021, Aguilar went to the Anaheim theme park with her two adult daughters, Zenobia Hernandez and Andrea Maullul.
Suffered A Knee Injury At The Time
Aguilar, who was at the time suffering from a knee injury, received a wheelchair from the park thanks to the family.
Employees at the Jungle Cruise attraction informed Aguilar that there was no wheelchair-accessible boat available when the women attempted to ride it.
Opted For The Regular Boat
Aguilar and her daughters chose to take a regular boat instead of the ADA-accessible one allowing disabled park visitors to board without getting out of their wheelchairs.
Faced Difficulties When Getting Off The Boat
After the ride was over, park staff allegedly added “little unsecured bricks” to the steps of the boat to make them shorter, but Aguilar found them challenging to climb.
Disneyland Staff Laughed At Joanne Rather Than Helping Her
The lawsuit claims that rather than assisting the family, Disneyland staff members started “snickering and chuckling” at the woman’s difficulties, making her feel ashamed and embarrassed.
Due to the circumstance and the litigation, Aguilar “felt dehumanized.”
The Impact Of The Fall
Aguilar broke her right femur seconds later after losing her footing on the stairs and falling backward. She would stay in a hospital for 10 days before being sent to a rehab facility.
Died Of Septic Shock
The woman spent five months in the California institution near Oxnard before developing an illness, going into septic shock, and passing away on January 29, 2022.
Violating The Disabilities Act
As claimed in the lawsuit, the woman’s injuries from the fall at Disneyland caused her death. According to the federal complaint, the Americans with Disabilities Act was violated, and there was a wrongful death.
From The Family’s Lawyer Desk
According to the family’s lawyer, Michael Jeandron, to Orange County Register :
The Family Wants Full Compensation
The family of Aguilar is requesting unspecified compensation for Aguilar’s physical, emotional, and psychological suffering, as well as all related medical bills, funeral costs, and legal fees.
The Park Claimed They Aren’t Responsible
However, Disney has refuted all of the charges in court documents, asserting that it was not responsible for Aguilar’s injuries and that she and her girls were aware of the dangers associated with visiting the theme park.
Disneyland Wants The Case Dropped
The business asked for the case to be dropped.
Why The Park Insists On Dismissing The Case
The 66-year-old and her daughters were aware of the risks they were taking in Anaheim park, according to the park’s lawyers, who also claimed that other people or entities were responsible for her injuries. For this reason, the park wants the case to be dismissed.
