Then there’s the inconvenient, and one would think obvious, fact that water is, well, wet. Nonetheless, a woman has sued Six Flags Great America, located just north of Chicago in Gurnee, Illinois, alleging she slipped and fell while exiting the park’s “Buccaneer Battle” water ride.
In and of itself this might not be remarkable, but for the complaint’s specific allegations:
- That the park’s “Buccaneer Battle” ride “included water rafts that customers rode in a circle.”
- “That the rafts were equipped with water cannons for the use of raft passengers.”
- “That the raft water cannons were intended to be used to shoot water at other rafts and people on shore” (emphasis added).
- That the shore area was also equipped with water cannons which were intended to be used to shoot water at rafts” (emphasis added).
In other words, as befits a ride named “Buccaneer Battle,” the whole purpose of the ride was to shoot water at people who in turn could shoot back with water cannons of their own. Nonetheless, plaintiff Maria Monarrez alleges Great America was negligent, in part, for “fail[ing] to warn passengers on rafts that the area where they exited was slippery when wet.”
Like Hennig-Haney’s attorney, Monarrez’s attorney alleges his client sustained injuries; experienced pain, suffering, disability, and disfigurement; and incurred medical expenses and other damages in excess of $50,000.
Good thing she didn’t take a ride on this thing.
David Applegate is a Chicago-based trial lawyer and partner at the law firm of Williams Montgomery & John Ltd.
