Florida man sues Universal over alleged malfunction of 'Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey' ride
The Brief
A Florida man alleges Universal Orlando's Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride left him stranded midair, causing lasting injuries.
The lawsuit claims the park ignored prior warnings and failed to act.
Universal has not yet responded to the $50,000-plus complaint.
ORLANDO, Fla. - A Florida man has filed a lawsuit seeking more than $50,000 in damages against Universal Orlando Resort, alleging he was injured during a ride malfunction.
What we know
A St. Johns County man has filed a lawsuit against Universal Orlando Resort, seeking more than $50,000 in damages. The suit stems from a July 2, 2023, incident involving the "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey" ride.
The plaintiff claims the ride came to a sudden halt, leaving him stranded in a tilted cart for approximately an hour before being repositioned. He alleges the malfunction resulted in injuries and emotional distress.
What we don't know
Universal Orlando has not yet issued a public response or comment on the allegations. It is unclear whether the park has conducted an internal investigation or made technical changes to the ride following the incident.
There is also no information available about whether similar lawsuits have been filed or whether regulatory authorities were involved.
The backstory
According to the complaint, the ride was operating as intended when it unexpectedly stopped. The plaintiff argues that the ride has a history of issues and that Universal continued to run it despite known risks.
The lawsuit alleges a failure to repair or warn about the potential for power-related stoppages, which the plaintiff claims were foreseeable and avoidable.
Dig deeper
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is an indoor thrill ride at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure theme park and part of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The attraction includes robotic arm technology, motion simulation and 3D/4D imagery. Guests ride in secure seats attached to the robotic arm which pivots, drops, spins, and twists above its track.
"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," Universal explains. "Groundbreaking, state-of-the-art technology (and a little magic) creates a one-of-a-kind ride."
Universal has an identical ride at its parks in California, Japan, and China.
Timeline
The incident occurred on July 2, 2023. The plaintiff was allegedly stuck in the ride for nearly an hour that day. The legal complaint was filed in Orange County, Florida, on May 28, 2025.
What they're saying
The suit includes two counts: premises liability and general negligence. It argues that Universal breached its duty of care by failing to implement proper safety protocols, conduct timely inspections, maintain backup systems, and communicate warnings about ongoing risks — including rolling power outages. The plaintiff argues that this created "unreasonable risk of harm."
Universal was "aware that the rollercoaster had similar problems in the past and failed to take adequate or reasonable steps to remedy this known problem," the complaint alleges.
It further claims the theme park acted "with wanton, willful, and reckless disregard for the safety and health of the plaintiff," citing a profit motive for continuing to operate the ride despite the risks.
As a result, the plaintiff claims he suffered "bodily injury, resulting in pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, scarring, mental anguish, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, expense of hospitalization, medical and nursing care and treatment, loss of earnings, loss of ability to earn money, damage to property, inconvenience, and aggravation of a previously existing condition. Such losses are either permanent or continuing in nature."
As of Monday, June 2, 2025, Universal had not responded publicly.
Read The Lawsuit
Below is the full text of the lawsuit, which you can also find at this link (PDF).
Click to open this PDF in a new window.
What's next
The complaint demands a jury trial and seeks damages, court costs, and additional relief as allowed by law. The plaintiff is represented by Rob Cook, Attorney at Law, P.A., based in St. Augustine.
STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO:
Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines
Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar
Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines
FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV
The Source
This story was written based on information from documents filed in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court in and for Orange County.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Artwork referencing JK Rowling taken down by National Trust after being 'tampered with'
The National Trust says it has taken down a piece of art featuring JK Rowling's name after it was "tampered with by a member of the public". It has urged people "not to damage or tamper with artworks" once they are finished and on public display. Between April and November last year, visitors to Derbyshire's Hardwick Hall were invited to nominate a "contemporary Virtuous Woman", whose name was then sewn into the fabric, before it was put on public show in February. Until recently, the artwork, A Virtuous Woman, has continued to be on display, featuring the Harry Potter author's name, which was "stitched over by other participants" at an unspecified time. Feminist campaigner Jean Hatchet said on X last week that she had "corrected" the work by unpicking the stitching which was over Rowling's name. It comes after criticism of Rowling's views on gender issues that have seen her called transphobic by activists, which she has denied. The National Trust said the piece has been "taken off display… to protect it from further tampering or damage". Ms Hatchet has criticised the organisation's move, saying she removed the "stitching with the correct tool", took "great time and care", and did not damage it. She told Sky News: "Everyone involved in managing this project behaved in a cowardly fashion after a vindictive individual performed an act of woman-hating. It should have been removed immediately. Because they wouldn't, we did." The stitched names of British queens, artist Yoko Ono, ex-prime minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher, climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, and singer Taylor Swift among others appear not to have stitching over them on the recycled textile. The work comes from artist Layla Khoo in association with the University of Leeds and the National Trust. A spokeswoman for the trust said: "The artwork was open to contributions for eight months and closed in November when the piece was finished and put on public display. "During the participation phase, JK Rowling's name was stitched on to the piece seven times and in two instances it was stitched over by other participants. "At the time the artwork was completed and subsequently hung, JK Rowling's name appeared five times without any overstitching. "We ask people not to damage or tamper with artworks once they are finished and on public display. "The piece has been taken off display for investigation and to protect it from further tampering or damage. We take all claims and incidents of damage to items in our care seriously and investigate each one."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Warner Bros. Discovery Makes Layoffs Across Cable TV Group
Warner Bros. Discovery, as its cable TV business continues to shrink and viewership falls, has made targeted job cuts across its linear networks. The media conglomerate's linear TV business includes TNT, TBS, CNN, Food Network, Discovery, TLC, Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies. The layoffs affect well under 100 employees, a source familiar with the situation told Variety. The source added that no particular location or network was impacted more than others. The cuts — like those at other pay-TV networks affected by cord-cutting declines — are aimed at WBD's ongoing goal of operating more efficiently. More from Variety Warner Bros. Discovery Shareholders Vote Against CEO David Zaslav's $52 Million Pay Package in a Symbolic Rebuke David Leavy, CNN's Chief Operating Officer, Will Return to Warner Bros. Discovery Warner Bros. Discovery, U-Next Strike Global Distribution Deal for Japanese Dramas (EXCLUSIVE) For the first quarter of 2025, revenue in the company's linear TV networks business fell 7%, to $4.7 billion. Warner Bros. Discovery said ad revenue fell 12%, while distribution revenue was off by 9%. The company cited declines in audiences at its networks for the downturns. In Q1, adjusted operating income of the cable TV group fell 15%, to $1.79 billion. The layoffs in WBD's cable group come after Disney cuts its headcount by several hundred employees this week, affecting staffers in TV, film and corporate finance. Last month, S&P Global Ratings cut Warner Bros. Discovery's credit rating to junk status based on its lowered earnings forecast for 2025-26 primarily due to the 'continued revenue and cash flow declines at its linear TV operations,' which the ratings firm said will offset growth in the company's streaming and studio segments. In Q1, Warner Bros. Discovery said, it completed the process of reorganizing the company into two divisions: one comprising its streaming business (plus HBO) and production studios, and the other composed of the rest of its cable TV portfolio. The reorg will 'create opportunities as we evaluate all avenues to deliver significant shareholder value,' CEO David Zaslav said in originally announcing the separation last December. Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Aging CEOs, Ambitious Nepo Babies and a Tech Revolution: Succession in the Music Biz
The business of music long has been an incestuous one, even when the players aren't related. But some of the leaders of today's recorded music industry — 84 percent of which is housed under the three major label groups, Universal, Warner and Sony — actually are. When Lucian Grainge, chairman and CEO of UMG, took the reins in 2011, his son, Elliot, had barely graduated college. Today, the junior Grainge is running Warner's Atlantic Records (home to Ed Sheeran, Coldplay and Bruno Mars) alongside another so-called 'nepo baby,' WMG's billionaire majority owner Len Blavatnik's 27-year-old son, Val Blavatnik, who is a member of WMG's board of directors with an increasing presence at the company. Elliot was brought in at age 30 in late 2024 to turn around the label's declining market share (from 10 percent at the end of 2020, down to 5.7 percent last year). While the results of his appointment are yet to be assessed, his track record for breaking acts on platforms like TikTok at his record label 10K Projects — where his successes included Ice Spice and the controversial 6ix9ine — preceded him. (WMG bought a majority stake in 10K in 2023.) More from The Hollywood Reporter Billy Joel Tells Howard Stern: "I'm Not Dying" ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus on Writing a Musical Assisted by AI and Those Kiss Avatars: SXSW London Diddy Trial Sees Heckler Disrupt Court as Judge Learns Anonymous Witness' Name Leaked Online 'Everyone in the industry is doing the same stuff,' Elliot told The Wall Street Journal earlier this year. 'I'm not doubting any of the human capabilities of these great guys, women and companies — however, they grew up in the fax machine era.' Elliot's ascent to CEO brought with it some upheaval — namely the exit of Julie Greenwald, a beloved executive who had shepherded the Atlantic labels for 20 years. Now, the industry's eyes are on the bigger Warner picture. Specifically, the company's succession line. THR talked to nearly a dozen executives across management, recorded music and publishing — all of whom requested anonymity to speak freely on the matter — who parroted a common refrain: that CEO Robert Kyncl, who joined WMG from YouTube in 2022, may be nearing the end of his run. (A rep for WMG says 'these are just totally false rumors,' declining further comment.) While not everyone had the same theory about who would take over if that happened, the most likely candidate, most agreed, was Val Blavatnik. 'Len will throw his kid in the seat as fast as he can,' one artist manager says. 'It's the succession. Warner's like a vanity [asset] for Len.' Adds a top manager: 'Val and Elliot are very close. It would make sense to bring Elliot in so he could sit and see for a while and help Val.' Another insider puts it more bluntly: 'This has always been a dynastic play for Len and Val.' To be fair, Kyncl is an easy target for rumor fodder given that he's the only CEO with a background in tech and media rather than music, and the music industry — with its less conventional work environment and reliance on intangibles like golden 'ears' — hasn't typically embraced outsiders. Coming off an underwhelming Q1 earnings report (WMG's stock price is down 16 percent since this time last year) also makes it easy for onlookers to put Kyncl under the microscope even if the chatter is unfounded. A change would be somewhat ironic, though, at a time when AI is poised to upend the music business if a digital native wouldn't have the mandate to navigate those rough waters. While insiders are turned toward Warner, it's worth remembering the fickle and cyclical nature of the music business, where hits still remain the top currency. With enough of them, the conversation could change. Currently WMG holds five of the Top 10 slots on Spotify's Global 50 chart as Alex Warren's 'Ordinary' (Atlantic) remains the biggest song in the world, Warner Records' Sombr hold two spots, 'La Plena – W Sound 05″ out of Warner Music Latina is seventh, and Atlantic's Rosé and Bruno Mars are in eighth with Apt.' If the past tells us anything, it's that seismic technological shifts have often served as a precursor for a changing of the guard at the record companies. In the early days of Napster and peer-to-peer file-sharing, Doug Morris (and his Universal colleagues, including Jimmy Iovine, who would go on to sell his Beats by Dr. Dre headphone line to Apple for $3 billion in 2014) was tasked with fending off the death of the CD, to mixed results. The era of digital downloads followed, making Apple's iTunes the world's biggest music store. Still, the 2000s would see year-over-year declines as album sales (typically $9.99 and up) ceded to song sales at 99 cents. By 2011, just ahead of the streaming era, Lucian Grainge spearheaded Universal's acquisition binge, beginning with the catalog-rich EMI (bought for $1.9 billion in 2012, not coincidentally the year Spotify launched in the U.S.) and continuing to the present, where its holdings now claim two-thirds of music's global market share. Today, Grainge, who netted handsomely when the company public in 2021, is the longest-tenured CEO across the three label groups. Sony Music Group chairman Rob Stringer is a not-too-distant second. After working at the company all of his professional life, he replaced Morris as chief executive in 2017 and has gone on to see some formidable wins, including record-breakers like Adele, and culture-shifting albums by Beyonce and Tyler, the Creator, to say nothing of bringing to the world Harry Styles. Is another change on the horizon? It's certainly a topic making the rounds as executives and industry insiders question when the old guard will pass the torch to a younger generation gearing up for the next era. Some wonder if Grainge will continue to occupy the top seat past his contract-end date in May 2028, though others suggest it's still premature to speculate on Grainge's successor as he's still very active in the company and has laid out a vision for the company for the years ahead. Still, succession has been discussed at UMG board meetings, and a source familiar with the agenda scoffs at the idea of going outside the UMG family in the future. Indeed, insiders and reports have cited Republic Collective CEO Monte Lipman (who runs the label group with his brother, Avery, its co-president and COO) and Interscope chairman/CEO John Janick as logical candidates from Universal's U.S. operations, but leaders in other territories shouldn't be counted out, says a source. 'There's a deep bench of internal players who are more than qualified to step into this position.' As succession names float, a pattern becoming more apparent is the lack of women helming labels contending to take the top C-suite jobs. For a time just a few years ago, that picture looked brighter as Michelle Jubelirer was chairwoman and CEO of Capitol Music Group, Greenwald was chairwoman and CEO of Atlantic Music Group, Ethiopia Habtemariam was CEO of Motown and Sylvia Rhone was CEO and Chairwoman of Epic. (The publishing side fares slightly better as Jody Gerson logs a decade as CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group while Carianne Marshall has been Warner Chappell's COO since 2018.) 'Old white men have had a choke hold on the industry for years,' says one female executive, who blames the lack of women on the industry's inability to properly groom talent. 'It's pretty pathetic of the labels, but it's not surprising. … And now there's been such a revolt around DEI, everyone has permission to just do the easy thing and hire the average white man instead.' (Rhone is the sole remaining female label head, but at 73, her retirement has become a perennial musing.) There are signs of hope under the conglomerate umbrella, however, with a slew of next-gen execs in the wings. At UMG's Island Records (home to Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan), Imran Majid and Justin Eshak were named co-CEOs in 2021; at Def Jam (Justin Bieber, Big Sean), Tunji Balogun came in as chairman CEO in 2022; and at Mercury (Post Malone), 32-year-old Tyler Arnold assumed the chairman and CEO title in March. Meanwhile at Sony, new leadership for Arista (Maneskin) was just announced with Clio Massey, daughter of outgoing chairman David Massey, transitioning to co-president alongside Matt D'Arduini. And WMG's own Warner Records has seen its parent company's most consistent recent successes between Zach Bryan, Benson Boone and Teddy Swims under the watch of co-chairman and CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck who, at 43, is among the more senior of the bunch. Elliot Grainge, now 31, certainly tips the scale towards a younger, more nimble record executive less constrained by the old-boys-club way of doing things. But when that elder is your father and mentor, the nepotism-whispers will linger until he's had enough hits of his own. And in a business where names like Azoff, Davis and Wasserman all evoke the nepo tag, the song remains the same. 'Imagine if Bob Iger had a son who went to work at a competing company — it would never happen,' says one prominent industry lifer. 'In music, it's like, 'Oh well, we're fucking morons.' Time and time again, these CEOs refuse to leave or to do what's right as far as their corporate responsibility.' A version of this story appeared in the June 4 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More
