An Arizona woman was awarded $7.25 million by a California federal court after suffering a severe spine injury on the Harry Potter ride at Universal Studios Hollywood more than two years ago, according to reports.
Pamela Morrison, 74, suffered a crushed spine when she exited the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride in September 2022.
Morrison, who was spending the day at the park with her grandson, slipped when leaving the moving walkway onto solid ground after being asked to exit the ride when her harness failed to secure, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“The belt was still moving, and so my foot went on that belt and then … my other foot went on to the stationary floor, and it knocked me off my feet,” the Times quoted Morrison as stating in court documents.
Morrison’s attorney Taylor Kruse argued during the trial that the fall was due to employees’ failure to halt the moving walkway and allow the woman to exit the ride in a safe manner, according to a report by Law360.
Court documents broke down the financial distributions stating that Morrison was awarded $2 million for past damages, $5 million for future damages and $250,000 for future medical expenses.
“Justice was served,” Morrison’s attorney Taylor Kruse responded via email after the decision, the Orange County Register reported.
