TAMPA, Fla. — A Tampa family was awarded more than $8 million in a case after their child was seriously injured while at Busch Gardens.
The incident happened in September 2022 when the family was at the amusement park during the annual Howl-O-Scream event. The amusement park staff left the doors open to an attraction unlocked and unattended.
The child went into the area and on a trampoline before falling off and getting a cut on his chin, liver and right kidney, according to a news release from Morgan & Morgan.
The child lost the function of his kidney as a result of the accident.
“A young child will now have to endure renal protective measures for the rest of his life, limiting what he can eat, what sports he can play, and what medications he can take,” said Morgan & Morgan founder John Morgan and attorney Paul Fulmer. “We are glad the jury was able to recognize the amusement park’s role in causing our client’s lifelong injuries and provided him with the justice he deserves.”
The jury found the plaintiffs were subjected to comparative fault for being negligent and contributed 35% to the child's injuries, according to court records from the 13th Judicial Circuit. This resulted in the final verdict of $5.3 million for the family.
The plaintiffs originally declined the defendant's pre-trial settlement offer of $40,000 before ultimately being awarded millions, according to the lawyer representing them.
