Another lawsuit hits Epic Universe. This time over Harry Potter ride.
The brothers say a sudden stop on a Harry Potter ride led to lasting injuries, marking another legal challenge for Universal Epic Universe.
Eve Chen
A pair of twins is suing Universal over injuries they say were sustained on the Harry Potter ride at Universal Epic Universe.
According to separate but similar lawsuits filed by Morgan & Morgan on Feb. 20, Erick and Derrick Burroughs were riding Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry on Christmas Day when “a malfunction occurred, causing the ride vehicle to stop abruptly.” The law firm said the 45-year-old brothers were jostled erratically in their seats, leading to back and neck injuries.
The lawsuits describe the injuries as permanent and say the twins suffered physical and mental pain, lost income, added medical expenses, and more. Each brother is suing for upwards of $50,000 in damages, excluding legal fees and other costs.
In a statement, Morgan & Morgan founder John Morgan and attorney John V. Scatuorchio said: “Universal allegedly operated a ride that had been plagued by repeated malfunctions, glitches and hard stops since it opened. Our clients continue to seek treatment for their injuries, which are impacting their everyday lives. They have filed these lawsuits to hold Universal accountable for a safety incident we allege was entirely preventable.”
Universal told USA TODAY it does not comment on pending litigation. However, over the years, the company has repeatedly emphasized safety.
A number of other guests have sued Universal since its Epic Universe theme park opened last year. Most of those lawsuits have been tied to its Stardust Racers roller coaster.
The family of 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala notably reached a settlement with Universal after he died of “multiple blunt impact injuries” after riding it. At least five other guests have also sued over the same ride.