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News: Family files lawsuit against Disney World

Posted at 11:13 PM EDT (0313 GMT)

Jun. 13th, 2006 -- After one year, the Bamuwamye family of Sellersville, PA has filed a lawsuit against Disney claiming that their son died on Mission: Space due to company officials not warning the public of the hazards of the ride which spins in a mock space ship using centrifugal forces.

"They are exposing the general public to a ride whose forces they don't really understand," said Tampa attorney Robert A. Samartin, who is representing Daudi's parents, Moses and Agnes Bamuwamye of Sellersville, Pa.

Officials had determined that the boy died died of a heart attack caused by a previously undiagnosed, rare heart disease that gave him an enlarged heart flawed with scar tissue.

The family says in their lawsuit that Disney should not have allowed Daudi on the ride because he was so small, and didn't do enough to help him when he got off the ride unconscious.

Back in April of this year, 49-year-old Hitraud Blumel, died after riding the same ride.

In May, Disney had started offering a "lite" version of the ride that did not include all of the forces in the original version. The company has always said that the ride has always been safe regardless of the number of incidents that have occured with the ride.

Disney spokesperson Jacquee Polak called his death "a terrible loss to his loved ones. We sympathize with them. However, we disagree with the assertions of the lawsuit. We believe the attraction is safe," she said.

For more information on this story please see the Orlando Sentinel.

Also see our original story from the April accident here.

Posted by Katie

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Comments
Phil Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 9190 View Park/Ride Count	The family really doesn't have a case, but unfortunately that doesn't mean they won't win. I also found it a bit sickening that they picked the one year anniversary to file this.
6/13/2006 11:32 PM
BGWfanatic Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 1851 View Park/Ride Count	Wow has it been a year already!?!? Im not surprised by this at all, and I do think the family has more of a case then most of the amusment park lawsuits out there nowadays. But its still a very very small case and just annoying IMO. This will most likely end with Disney giving the family settlement money just so it doesnt go to court and become to publicised.
6/14/2006 12:09 AM
Hammy2003 Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 505 View Park/Ride Count	On cases like this, the family has exactly a year to the date of the incident to file. That's the understanding I have, at least. I'm relating this to a case that involves my best friend related to a school. Long story... nevermind.
6/14/2006 12:10 AM
cannonballer Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 1350 View Park/Ride Count	The ride is safe as long as people follow the rules and read the precautions! If he was too small to ride then it is up to the parents ULTIMATLY to not let him ride! if anything the family should be sued for child neglect!!!
6/14/2006 1:11 AM
meames Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 184 View Park/Ride Count	Intense it may be, but unsafe I don't think so. I don't think they could warn you any more. The 1st time I rode in 2005 there was signs everywhere, outside and throughout the queue, a precaution video that clearly states that the ride spins very fast, with a computer animation of what it does. No offense to the family, and I am sorry for their loss, but they must have walked through with their eyes closed if they think Disney didn't warn them.
6/14/2006 3:35 AM
Mrceagle Joined: Sep 2002 Posts: 1911 View Park/Ride Count	I wonder what TV station they got this lawyer form. I hate these people. I really do. there lose is terrible but not the parks fault. the kid had a heart problem they they didn't know about and the park posts warnings. It was the family that opted to ride the ride regardless of the fact that there overly tall 4-year-old son may not be able to ride it safely. they at no time even bothered to Consider that normally when a height level is were it is is also because normally people at that height are a bit older.
6/14/2006 9:25 AM
DmnAdam14113 Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 241 View Park/Ride Count	Maybe they were inclined to file this lawsuit because of the woman who most recently died on this ride. Perhaps they thought they would have a better chance now that a second person has died on it. I really don't think they have much of a case. I'm sure there were plenty of warnings posted, and from what I heard, the ride only pulls around 2 G's. You experience more than that on a regular roller coaster.
6/14/2006 10:28 AM
meames Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 184 View Park/Ride Count	I think it may be more than 2G's, it really is intense on full throtle.
6/14/2006 12:06 PM
N1tro230 Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 25 View Park/Ride Count	This is almost as bad as if someone decided to sue McDonalds becasue eating there food made them fat...ooo wait...nevermind. Dont get me wrong, I mean i feel bad for the kid and family, but its just pathetic that these people will sue someone with alot of money with no real case, just to hope for a few quick bucks
6/14/2006 3:05 PM
coastrfreak2000 Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 794 View Park/Ride Count	I dont want to be rude but I think the only reason the family wants to file a lawsuit is because they want money. Why else would they have taken a year? I know this death was tragic for family and friends, as any death would be. But if it takes that long to do something, I think something is a little fishy.
6/14/2006 4:04 PM

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