New Los Angeles Skyslide Already Faces Lawsuit

Less than a month after opening, the ‘Skyslide’ in Los Angeles is facing a lawsuit. Gayle Yashar and her husband visited the slide July 3rd, and she left with a broken ankle. The couple is suing OUE Skyspace LLC and Legends Hospitality LLC for damages of over $25,000.

The ‘Skyslide’, an outdoor glass slide located 1,000 feet above the city of Los Angeles, opened to the public on June 25th. It lets visitors slide between the 70th and 69th floors of the U.S. Bank Tower. The slide attaches to the building from the outside, allowing riders to view the city underneath them, and it is part of a group of new attractions opening at the top of the building along with a 360 degree restaurant.

Video of Yashar’s ride shows the moment of injury; towards the end of the ride, Yashar loses control of the camera, and viewers can hear a loud crack as she reaches the bottom. When she tries to stand up after tumbling out of the slide, she realizes her ankle is hurt. Yashar’s lawsuit alleges that the operator of ‘Skyslide’ should have warned visitors like her of the potential risks, and also that the slide does not allow riders time to slow down before the end. Specifically, Yashar claims that a stack of mats at the bottom of the slide created a gap that caught her foot and caused the injury.

Morty Yashar, Gayle Yashar’s husband, is also a plaintiff in the case filing for loss of consortium.

Amusement rides like ‘Skyslide’ must follow certain premise, product, and negligence liability laws that determine what kind of actions owners of the amusements are responsible for. Amusement parks and other companies that provide rides like ‘Skyslide’ are generally responsible for maintaining basic safety features of rides, including completing proper maintenance to keep the rides in working order, providing proper instructions to visitors about how to use the rides, and training staff to properly operate the rides. Amusement companies are also responsible for warning visitors about possible risks of amusement rides.

But while operators of amusement rides are liable for a long list of actions, there is an equally long list of defenses operators can use to deflect personal injury claims. Defenses include assumed risk for an activity, non-compliance of a visitor (they didn’t follow directions), and posted disclaimers that warn visitors about the possible injuries from the activity, deflecting some types of lawsuits.

Every state has different laws that govern safety regulations for amusement parks. In Maryland, rides are required to pass inspection by state officials, and operators must alert state officials when a serious injury occurs on a ride.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury on an amusement ride, you may be eligible for compensation. Call our offices today to schedule a free consultation.