
334-pound man sues Walt Disney World over injuries sustained on waterslide that allegedly didn't support his weight
A man allegedly injured after an ill-fated trip down a waterslide at Walt Disney World is suing the theme park giant for $50,000 in damages — even though he was more than 30 pounds over the ride's weight limit at the time.
In the lawsuit filed last Thursday, Eugene Strickland claims that he is still struggling with the aftermath of 'catastrophic injuries' he sustained after riding the Downhill Double Dipper at Disney's Blizzard Beach Waterpark in July 2021.
3 A man filed a lawsuit against Walt Disney World for $50,000 in damages for injuries he allegedly sustained on a waterslide at the park.
Getty Images
At the time, Strickland weighed 334 pounds, according to the complaint, which put him just over the ride's 300-pound limit. It is unclear if he was warned about or aware of the weight limit before going down the slide.
3 Strickland asserted he went airborne on the Downhill Double Dipper at Disney's Blizzard Beach Waterpark.
Strickland allegedly 'became momentarily airborne' on the waterslide before eventually landing 'with force onto the hard plastic surface of the slide' after losing control of the inner tube he was riding in, according to the complaint.
The lawsuit pins blame on the waterslide's design and 'exhilarating speeds,' according to the complaint.
3 At the time, Strickland was 34 pounds heavier than the recommended weight limit for the waterslide.
AP
Strickland asserts that he 'suffered serious bodily injury and resulting pain and suffering, disability, scarring, disfigurement, mental anguish, [and] loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life' that he still grapples with today, according to the complaint.
He also claims that Disney World is directly negligent for failing to establish safe premises and that they were well aware of the 'safety hazard' and 'concealed trap' the waterslide presented that contributed to his injuries.
Strickland is seeking $50,000 in damages from the entertainment kingpin, according to the complaint.
Disney has their hands full with waterpark complaints this summer.
One Long Island mother is suing for a staggering $2 million in damages after she was allegedly scarred by a 'mammoth' wave at the resort's Typhoon Lagoon.
The Post has reached out to Disney for comment.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
What to know about fatal shooting of 'King of the Hill' actor Jonathan Joss as co-stars pay tribute
HOUSTON (AP) — What prompted the fatal shooting of Jonathan Joss, a Native American voice actor best known for his work on the animated television series 'King of the Hill,' remained unclear on Tuesday. While Joss' husband has claimed the person who killed the actor yelled 'violent homophobic slurs' before opening fire, San Antonio police have said they've found 'no evidence whatsoever to indicate that Mr. Joss' murder was related to his sexual orientation.' Police did not respond to multiple emails on Tuesday seeking additional information on the cause of the shooting. Since Joss' killing, friends, actors Joss worked with and fans have honored the actor's memory with tributes and fond remembrances. Here's what to know about Joss, his career and his shooting: Who was Joss? Joss, 59, grew up in San Antonio and graduated from the communications and theater program at Our Lady of the Lake University in 1990. Joss was best known as the voice of John Redcorn, a Native American character on the popular 'King of the Hill' animated series, which ran for 13 seasons from 1997 to 2008. A reboot of the show, which Joss had already worked on, is set to start in August. Joss also had a recurring role on the television show 'Parks and Recreation,' playing Chief Ken Hotate. He appeared in two episodes of the series 'Tulsa King' in 2022. What was happening with Joss in the months before his death? Joss' childhood home, where he still lived, burned down in January. He lost all his belongings and his three dogs were killed in the blaze. A GoFundMe account had been set up to help Joss and his husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, get back on their feet. 'We may have lost our home, but not our hope. We're moving forward with love, humor, and a little elbow grease…and we're incredibly grateful for every ounce of support,' Joss said in a May 14 Facebook post in which he indicated he was in Los Angeles looking for a new home. By the end of May, Joss was back in Texas, and on Saturday, he took part in a live music performance in Austin, located about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of San Antonio. Who is accused of fatally shooting Joss? Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, 56, is accused by police of confronting Joss and his husband as they were checking their mail at the burned-down home Sunday night. In a statement, de Gonzales alleged that when Ceja Alvarez opened fire, Joss pushed his husband out of the way and saved his life. Ceja Alvarez was charged with murder. Court records indicate he was freed Monday on a $200,000 bond. Ceja Alvarez's attorney, Alfonso Otero, did not immediately return a call or an email seeking comment. Robert Rios, a friend of Joss', told TV station KSAT that Joss and Ceja Alvarez were neighbors and the two had argued for years. How is Joss being remembered by friends, actors? Actor Chris Pratt, who worked with Joss on 'Parks and Recreation,' fondly remembered the actor in an Instagram story on Monday. Both actors had also appeared in the 2016 remake of 'The Magnificent Seven.' 'Damn. RIP Jonathan. Always such a kind dude,' Pratt wrote. 'Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones.' In a Facebook post, San Antonio-based Our Lady of the Lake University, Joss' alma mater, called him 'a trailblazer in his field. His work and advocacy have left a lasting impact, and his legacy will continue to inspire.' 'You were more than a character — you were a storyteller, a dreamer, and a force that will never be forgotten,' comedian Roy Alex Gomez, who was a friend of Joss, wrote in a Facebook post. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano:


San Francisco Chronicle
31 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
What to know about fatal shooting of 'King of the Hill' actor Jonathan Joss as co-stars pay tribute
HOUSTON (AP) — What prompted the fatal shooting of Jonathan Joss, a Native American voice actor best known for his work on the animated television series 'King of the Hill,' remained unclear on Tuesday. While Joss' husband has claimed the person who killed the actor yelled 'violent homophobic slurs' before opening fire, San Antonio police have said they've found 'no evidence whatsoever to indicate that Mr. Joss' murder was related to his sexual orientation.' Police did not respond to multiple emails on Tuesday seeking additional information on the cause of the shooting. Since Joss' killing, friends, actors Joss worked with and fans have honored the actor's memory with tributes and fond remembrances. Who was Joss? Joss, 59, grew up in San Antonio and graduated from the communications and theater program at Our Lady of the Lake University in 1990. Joss was best known as the voice of John Redcorn, a Native American character on the popular 'King of the Hill' animated series, which ran for 13 seasons from 1997 to 2008. A reboot of the show, which Joss had already worked on, is set to start in August. Joss also had a recurring role on the television show 'Parks and Recreation,' playing Chief Ken Hotate. He appeared in two episodes of the series 'Tulsa King' in 2022. What was happening with Joss in the months before his death? Joss' childhood home, where he still lived, burned down in January. He lost all his belongings and his three dogs were killed in the blaze. A GoFundMe account had been set up to help Joss and his husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, get back on their feet. 'We may have lost our home, but not our hope. We're moving forward with love, humor, and a little elbow grease…and we're incredibly grateful for every ounce of support,' Joss said in a May 14 Facebook post in which he indicated he was in Los Angeles looking for a new home. By the end of May, Joss was back in Texas, and on Saturday, he took part in a live music performance in Austin, located about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of San Antonio. Who is accused of fatally shooting Joss? Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, 56, is accused by police of confronting Joss and his husband as they were checking their mail at the burned-down home Sunday night. In a statement, de Gonzales alleged that when Ceja Alvarez opened fire, Joss pushed his husband out of the way and saved his life. Ceja Alvarez was charged with murder. Court records indicate he was freed Monday on a $200,000 bond. Ceja Alvarez's attorney, Alfonso Otero, did not immediately return a call or an email seeking comment. Robert Rios, a friend of Joss', told TV station KSAT that Joss and Ceja Alvarez were neighbors and the two had argued for years. How is Joss being remembered by friends, actors? Actor Chris Pratt, who worked with Joss on 'Parks and Recreation,' fondly remembered the actor in an Instagram story on Monday. Both actors had also appeared in the 2016 remake of 'The Magnificent Seven.' 'Damn. RIP Jonathan. Always such a kind dude,' Pratt wrote. 'Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones.' In a Facebook post, San Antonio-based Our Lady of the Lake University, Joss' alma mater, called him 'a trailblazer in his field. His work and advocacy have left a lasting impact, and his legacy will continue to inspire.' 'You were more than a character — you were a storyteller, a dreamer, and a force that will never be forgotten,' comedian Roy Alex Gomez, who was a friend of Joss, wrote in a Facebook post.


New York Post
38 minutes ago
- New York Post
The turbulent life of South Korea's new leader — Lee Jae-myung's rise from child laborer to divisive President
Lee Jae-myung was a child laborer with an arm deformity. He attempted suicide. He later made his way through university and became a highly divisive politician who survived a stabbing attack and struggles with numerous criminal charges. Advertisement 5 Lee Jae-myung, 60, a child laborer with an arm deformity who also attempted suicide, made his way to become a highly divisive politician who survived a stabbing attack and struggles with numerous criminal charges. Getty Images His turbulent life climaxed, as Lee, 60, the candidate of the main liberal Democratic Party, was elected as South Korea's new president to succeed his conservative archrival Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted over his stunning imposition of martial law. There are both hopes and fears about Lee's win. Advertisement Supporters think he's an able leader who can get things done and fix the country's deep-rooted economic inequality and corruption. But critics say Lee will likely oppress political opponents and intensify a domestic division. Here's a look at Lee, whose single, five-year presidency begins on Wednesday: Childhood poverty After graduating from an elementary school, Lee had to work at various factories in Seongnam, a city near Seoul, because his family couldn't afford his secondary education. Advertisement At a factory manufacturing baseball gloves, he had his left forearm crushed by a press machine, getting a permanent arm disability. Lee said he suffered beating at his factories and hated encountering a girl who was a neighbor when he helped his garbage collector father's work at a traditional market. 5 Jae-myung was elected as the next president of South Korea after Yoon Suk Yeol was ousted after declaring martial law. Getty Images Despaired, Lee tried to kill himself twice, both unsuccessfully. Advertisement He later got back on his feet and entered Seoul's Chung-Ang University with a full scholarship, before he became a human rights lawyer. 'Hopes and ordeals always come together. The roles of ordeals are not getting people to surrender, but testing how serious and desperate their hopes are,' Lee said in a memoir published in 2017. Liberal firebrand Lee later entered politics and became Seongnam mayor and governor of Gyeonggi province. Once a political outsider, Lee rose to prominence in 2016 after he made a series of fiery street speeches criticizing then conservative President Park Geun-hye, who was later removed from office over a corruption scandal. 'Let's seize her with our hands and consign her to history,' Lee said during one rally in December 2016. Many of his comments have since sharply polarized South Koreans. 5 Supporters believe Lee Jae-myung could get things done and help fix the country's economy, while critics believe he will oppress political opponents and create division among party lines. AP Lee vilified South Korea's conservative establishment as greedy 'fake conservatives.' Advertisement He slammed a U.S. missile defense system in South Korea as a source of tensions and likened strengthening U.S.-Japan ties to a 1905 Washington-Tokyo agreement that he said helped Japan colonize the Korean Peninsula later. Lee's proposal of giving a universal basic income to all citizens have invited accusations that he's a populist. In 2022, he lost the hotly contested presidential election to Yoon. In 2024, Lee was attacked by a man who told investigators that he wanted to kill Lee to prevent him from becoming president. Foreign policy challenges Advertisement Recently, Lee has made few contentious or radical comments on foreign policy and security issues, and rather has promised to pursue pragmatic diplomacy. He's repeatedly described South Korea's alliance with the U.S. as the foundation of the country's foreign policy and stressed the need to maintain a trilateral Seoul-Washington-Tokyo security partnership. 5 Before becoming president, Jae-myung was the Seongnam mayor and governor of the Gyeonggi province. AFP via Getty Images 'When it comes to what Lee said in the past, we don't know whether he made such comments only to appeal to his supporters or whether they showed his true nature,' said Shin Yul, a politics professor at Seoul's Myonggi University. Advertisement The major issues that Lee will immediately face is U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war and other 'America First' policies, and North Korea's advancing nuclear program. They are both vital issues for South Korea, but many experts say there isn't much diplomatic room for South Korea to maneuver in to produce major changes in its favor in both matters. Paik Wooyeal, a professor at Seoul's Yonsei University, said that Trump is 'too overwhelming and dominant,' so that whoever is in South Korean leadership, the country's dealings with the U.S. won't be much different. He said that foreign policy advisers for Lee would also know that North Korea won't voluntarily give up its nuclear weapons. Advertisement 5 Jae-myung's presidency will begin on Wednesday. AFP via Getty Images Legal woods Lee comes to office under the shadow of his own legal troubles. He stands accused in five trials over corruption and other charges, and at one point, some of his legal battles threatened his bid for presidency. Lee celebrated in March when the Seoul High Court overturned a suspended prison sentence against him for violating the election law during the 2022 race. But he fumed in May when the Supreme Court quashed that ruling and sent the case back to the high court, citing a strong likelihood of his guilt. Hearings at the high court were eventually postponed until after the election. Had his conviction been finalized, Lee would have been barred from running for president. Other trials center around his roles in dubious development projects and illegal money transfers to North Korea, and his alleged misuse of official funds and persuading of a witness to commit perjury. Lee's five trials will likely stop as South Korea's constitution prevents a sitting president from being charged with most crimes. But his rivals will take issue with it, because the constitution doesn't clearly state whether a president can be convicted for crimes in which indictments came before taking up office. Lee's Democratic Party, which holds a majority in the National Assembly, has been pushing to revise the criminal procedure law to suspend ongoing criminal trials involving a sitting president until the end of their term. Conservatives have harshly lambasted the move. National split During the presidential campaign, Lee vowed not to pursue a vendetta against conservatives. However, he has also called for a thorough investigation into Yoon and his inner circle over rebellion allegations. Lee's opponents worry he could use those investigations to clamp down on Yoon associates and prosecutors who he thinks orchestrated inquiries involving his criminal charges. Yoon's martial law stunt intensified a domestic divide. Declaring martial law, Yoon portrayed Lee's party as 'anti-state' forces influenced by North Korea and China. He has also endorsed baseless election fraud theories to discredit the liberals' legislative majority, prompting his angry supporters to pour onto the streets with 'Stop the Steal' signs. Anti-Yoon activists and citizens, for their part, also rallied for weeks to demand his immediate dismissal. With liberals remaining in control of the legislature, Lee faces a far more favorable environment to advance his policies. Conservatives have voiced concern that Lee and the Democratic Party will wield virtually unchecked power to pass legislation previously blocked by Yoon's administration, including bills aimed at strengthening protections for labor unionists against corporate lawsuits and shielding farmers from volatile rice prices.