A federal jury ordered Universal Studios Hollywood to pay $7.25 million to Pamela Morrison, a 74 year old Arizona grandmother who suffered a spinal compression fracture during a 2022 incident on the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride. The verdict highlights critical safety concerns in theme park operations.
Morrison’s injury occurred when employees failed to stop a moving walkway as she exited the attraction after a harness malfunction. Her attorney, Taylor Kruse, condemned Universal’s prioritization of ride throughput over safety:
It would have cost them four seconds to stop it, but instead they wanted to keep the ride moving no matter what, to make its quota of 1,800 riders per hour.
Universal’s legal team claimed Morrison was distracted by her grandson, but jurors unanimously ruled the park’s negligence created hazardous conditions. The compensation breakdown includes:
- $250,000 for future medical costs
- $2 million for past pain/suffering
- $5 million for future physical/emotional trauma
Kruse emphasized the lifelong impact of Morrison’s injury, stating, The fall changed her whole life, and that's what the jury saw. Universal Studios has not publicly commented on the verdict, which underscores growing scrutiny of theme park liability protocols.