Disney Lawsuit Alleges Cast Members Laughed at Disabled Guest Before Deadly Accident
A recent Disney lawsuit alleges Cast Members laughed at a disabled guest before a deadly accident occurred at the Jungle Cruise attraction.
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The Orange County Register is reporting that the lawsuit states a disabled guest was having trouble exiting one of the Jungle Cruise boats and Cast Members laughed at her instead of helping her. She then suffered a fall that caused injuries and ultimately led to her death.
The guest, Joanne Aguilar, a 66-year-old Ventura County woman, died 5 months after the incident due to complications from her injuries.
On November 18, 2022, Aguilar’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Disneyland. The lawsuit states that Aguilar visited Disneyland with her two adult daughters on August 22, 2021. Aguilar was in a wheelchair at the time. The lawsuit states that a Cast Member at the Jungle Cruise attraction told them there was no wheelchair-accessible boat available.
Aguilar then decided to enter a boat with the help of her daughters. When the ride ended, Cast Members “placed small unsecured blocks on top of the existing steps inside the boat to reduce the height of each step.” Her daughters then helped her out of the boat while Cast Members supposedly watched and laughed.
“Exiting the boat was more difficult as it required her to propel her body upward with her lower legs, which due to her disability was not possible,” the lawsuit states. “The struggle was apparent and Disney cast members began snickered [sic] and giggling as they watched Ms. Aguilar try to safely exit the boat.”
Aguilar then fell backward and fractured her femur in her right leg. She was taken to a local hospital, underwent surgery, and stayed there for 10 days. Afterward, she was moved to a rehabilitation center where she stayed for 5 months. She passed away on January 29, 2022, from infection and going into septic shock.
Disney has denied the claims and stated that Aguilar’s injuries were caused by her own negligence and that Disneyland did not discriminate against her or deny her equal access. Disney is seeking a jury trial.
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