In September 2022, Pamela Morrison, a 74-year-old Arizona resident, visited Universal Studios Hollywood’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter with her grandson. As part of their visit, they decided to experience the popular attraction “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.” While attempting to board the ride, Morrison encountered difficulty with the safety harness, which failed to secure properly. Ride operators informed her that she would not be able to ride and directed her to exit the moving walkway.
As she attempted to step from the moving walkway onto solid ground, Morrison lost her footing and fell. The incident resulted in severe injuries, including a fracture in her lower back and a significant muscle tear around her hip. The aftermath of the fall required extensive medical care and left Morrison with long-term mobility challenges and chronic pain.
Following the incident, Morrison filed a lawsuit against Universal Studios Hollywood, alleging negligence in the operation of the attraction and the unsafe design of its exit system. Her legal team argued that Universal failed to ensure her safety when the harness malfunctioned and that the moving walkway should have been stopped to allow her to exit safely. Furthermore, they contended that park employees were more concerned with keeping the ride on schedule—operating at an estimated 1,800 riders per hour—than they were with attending to a vulnerable guest.