Disney World faces yet another lawsuit after a child was injured by a falling ember from the theme park’s fireworks. The incident, which took place near the famous Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom, is the center of a new legal battle brought by the family of a 7-year-old boy from New Jersey.
The lawsuit, filed by Nicole Ufie, the boy’s mother, claims that her son was struck in the eye by an ember from the fireworks display on March 13, 2023. According to the court documents, the child has suffered ongoing eye problems and permanent scarring due to the injury.
Ufie’s lawsuit accuses Disney of failing to provide a safe environment for park visitors, arguing that the park did not properly account for weather conditions that may have contributed to the hazardous situation.
The family is seeking over $50,000 in damages from Disney, according to their attorney Roman Diveev of Morgan & Morgan. In a public statement, Diveev emphasized that the legal action aims not only to obtain justice for the injured child but also to hold Disney accountable for what he described as negligence.
“Disney failed in their responsibility to maintain a safe environment at their park… We hope this lawsuit will prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.”
History of Fireworks-Related Lawsuits Against Disney
This is not the first time Disney has been sued over injuries caused by its fireworks displays. In a similar case, Kathleen Willis was injured during a fireworks show at Hollywood Studios in 2014. According to her lawsuit, smoldering debris from the fireworks fell from the sky and struck her eye, leaving her permanently blind. Her case was settled out of court in 2018, although the settlement amount remains undisclosed.
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Fireworks are a central feature of Disney World’s nightly entertainment, attracting millions of visitors every year. However, the risk of injury due to falling debris, especially in unpredictable weather conditions, raises concerns about the safety protocols in place.
Limited Oversight of Theme Park Injuries
In Florida, there is minimal governmental oversight of major theme parks like Disney World when it comes to injuries. Theme parks are only required to report incidents when a guest is injured or becomes ill on a ride and is hospitalized for more than 24 hours. As a result, many injury cases only come to light when lawsuits are filed, leaving much of the public unaware of potential risks.
The outcome of this latest lawsuit remains to be seen, but it has reignited a conversation about safety standards and accountability at large theme parks. Disney has not yet commented on the lawsuit, but the case may set a precedent for future claims involving fireworks-related injuries.