Universal Hollywood Sued After 'Harry Potter' Coaster Left Riders 'Stranded Midair'
Four individuals are suing Universal Studios Hollywood in California after their cart on the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride was left stranded in midair.
According to the suit, obtained exclusively by The Blast, Debra Biane, Gerald Scott Biane, Josh Taylorson, and Sami-Joh Goldberg, are suing the California theme park after riding the 'Harry Potter' attraction and suffering "severe injuries and incurred medical expenses."
Universal Studios Hollywood Faces Lawsuit After Malfunction Of Ride
On or about April 7, 2022, the four guests at the theme park say they were riding the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey rollercoaster, but it "suddenly, and without warning came to an abrupt stop, stranding their cart midair at an angle that left them tilted backward and to the right," per the suit.
Debra, Gerald, Josh, and Sam-Joh claim they were "stranded in this position for approximately one hour, after which the cart was moved to an upright position," the suit stated. "After approximately thirty minutes in this position, the cart was finally moved to the catwalk" and the four individuals exited the rollercoaster.
The lawsuit claims the "rollercoaster clearly malfunctioned" and the guests were "left in a position which subjected them to severe injuries for an unreasonable and dangerous amount of time."
What Is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey?
For those wondering, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a rollercoaster located at Universal Studios Hollywood. The theme park describes the attraction:
"Enter through the towering castle gates and make your way down the familiar passageways and corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Then soar above the castle grounds as you join Harry Potter and his friends on a thrilling adventure. Groundbreaking, state-of-the-art technology (and a little magic) creates a one-of-a-kind ride.
In addition to Professor Snape, throughout the Harry Potter stories, the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts professor has been held by six different professors: Quirinus Quirrell, Gilderoy Lockhart, Remus Lupin, Alastor ‘Mad-Eye’ Moody, Dolores Umbridge, and Amycus Carrow."
The 3D ride is supposed to give riders the sensation of riding a broomstick like Harry does. The ride is located inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood, which is also home to Flight of the Hippogriff.
Malfunction Of Rollercoaster 'Constituted An Unsafe Condition'
The lawsuit further states that the malfunction of the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey rollercoaster "constituted a dangerous and/or unsafe condition" that subjected those who were riding "an unreasonable risk of injuries."
The four individuals claim Universal Studios Hollywood should have known that the coaster "would malfunction and stop mid-ride," but they "failed to properly inspect, maintain, and/or repair" the coaster "to adequately address this risk and prevent [the ride] from causing injuries to those who rode."
Guests Claim Universal Studios Hollywood 'Failed To Implement Proper Procedures'
Furthermore, the four individuals accuse Universal Studios Hollywood of failing "to implement proper procedures to safely bring the [Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey rollercoaster] to its landing for the safe exit by those who rode this [ride], and to prevent them from being suspended for an unreasonable amount of time."
"The failure to implement and execute proper procedures for the safe and timely exit from the [Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey rollercoaster] in the event of a malfunction" allowed the riders to suffer "severe injuries, and incurred medical expenses and general damages in an amount to be proven at the time of trial."
Universal Studios Hollywood Is Sued For Over $25K
Debra Biane, Gerald Scott Biane, Josh Taylorson, and Sami-Joh Goldberg are suing for an unspecified amount of damages, but the suit states the sum is more than $25,000.
In 2018, another Universal Studios Hollywood guest filed a lawsuit after sustaining a spine injury on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, claiming the ride "thrashes riders about … whipsawing them back and forth violently" to the point that he suffered “shaken adult syndrome.”
Plus, in 2016, a few months before the official opening of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Universal Studios Hollywood, park employees claimed to suffer nausea and vomiting while testing the ride.
The Blast has reached out to Universal Hollywood for comment.
