Disney Responds to Lawsuit Over Fatal Fall at a Disney Resort

Disney responded to a lawsuit filed against them over the death of a Guest at a Disney Resort after a fatal fall.

Walt Disney World Resort is known as “The Most Magical Place on Earth” for good reason. Guests from all over the world flock to the premises to get their fix of the Disney magic. But sometimes, the Resort has also been a place of tragedy, and though those events are few and far between, they do happen.

In December 2020, Disney travel agent Jessica Straub took a Christmas trip to the Walt Disney World Resort. Unfortunately, her journey became a tragic story that has now developed further into a lawsuit.

Jessica Straub had planned to indulge in the decorations and delicious food, having that quintessential Disney Christmas, during her trip. However, when she was at Walt Disney World’s Caribbean Beach Resort, she slipped and fell; Straub hit her head on the ground, resulting in a fatal injury.

Per the District Nine Medical Examiner’s Office, which did not perform an autopsy but re-signed her death certificate, the cause of death was ruled an accident due to blunt head trauma from falling at a standing height.

A few months ago, in June 2022, Straub’s cousin Justin Morrison filed a lawsuit against Disney through the law firm Morgan & Morgan on behalf of Straub’s estate. The lawsuit claims that Walt Disney World Resort was negligent and accused the Caribbean Beach Resort of having unsafe conditions.

While Disney has not publically responded to the lawsuit, Florida Politics reported that they have worked to dismiss it by filing a response and asking for a dismissal. In the request, Disney claimed that the lawsuit was missing several facts and called it “vague and scattershot,” continuing that it was “little more than a collection of legal conclusions and jurisdictional allegations.”

The response filed on July 19 said,

“Noticeably absent are: any description or allegation explaining what or whom allegedly inflicted the ‘bodily injury’ on Ms. Straub; what the specific nature of the ‘bodily injury’ was; where in the roughly 200 acres that comprise Walt Disney Parks and Resorts’ Caribbean Beach Resort the injury allegedly occurred; or when in the four-day time-period referenced in the Complaint Ms. Straub’s injury occurred,” Disney said in the motion. “The lack of such details makes it … impossible for (Disney) to decipher how Plaintiff claims it is liable and mandates the dismissal of the Complaint.”

Disney also reportedly asked for documents proving Morrison was the personal representative of Straub’s estate, which is necessary for him to file the lawsuit.

We at Disney Fanatic will continue to report on this and all other Disney news as it comes to light.