What was supposed to be a day of wonder and wizardry at Universal Studios Hollywood turned into a nightmare for 74-year-old Pamela Morrison, a grandmother from Arizona who was visiting the park’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter with her grandson. But instead of enchanted memories, Morrison left the theme park with a crushed spine, permanent mobility issues, and a battle in court that would eventually win her a $7.25 million payout.
The incident happened in 2022, when Morrison was asked to step off the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride after her harness failed to secure properly. As she exited, she slipped on the ride’s moving walkway, landing hard on solid ground — an accident that shattered her lower back and severely damaged her hip. What followed was years of pain, surgeries, and an uphill legal fight against one of the biggest entertainment companies in the world.
In the courtroom, Universal’s defense team tried to shift the blame onto Morrison herself, painting her as distracted by her grandson. But the jury didn’t buy it, ultimately siding with the Arizona grandmother and awarding her millions in damages for what they determined was a preventable accident caused by the park’s own negligence.
A Catastrophic Misstep
The fall itself may have lasted only seconds, but the consequences will last a lifetime for Morrison. According to court documents, the fateful misstep occurred when Morrison’s foot landed awkwardly between the still-moving belt of the walkway and the stationary platform beyond it. With no time to recover her balance, she toppled over, landing painfully on her lower back.
The injuries were immediate and severe. Morrison suffered a catastrophic fracture to her lower spine, leaving her in excruciating pain and unable to stand without assistance. Her hip muscles were also badly damaged, making any kind of normal walking — or even sitting comfortably — nearly impossible.
The most heartbreaking consequence, however, was the loss of independence. Once able to care for herself, Morrison now required help with even the most basic tasks, including going to the bathroom. What was meant to be a magical day with her grandson became the moment her life changed forever.
Efficiency Over Safety
Morrison’s legal team didn’t just see her fall as a tragic accident — they saw it as the direct result of Universal’s relentless push for speed and efficiency. Attorney Taylor Kruse argued that park employees could have easily stopped the walkway to allow Morrison to step off safely, especially considering her age and visible difficulty.
But stopping the ride, Kruse explained, would have interrupted Universal’s tight operational goals, which aimed to keep the attraction running at a breakneck speed of 1,800 riders per hour. Rather than take an extra moment to ensure guest safety, the park prioritized throughput over precaution.
This wasn’t just an unfortunate oversight — Kruse painted it as a deliberate failure to put safety first. The jury agreed, ultimately awarding Morrison $7.25 million in damages: $250,000 for economic losses, $2 million for past pain and suffering, and a staggering $5 million for future non-economic damages to account for the lifelong impact of her injuries.
The Bigger Picture
Morrison’s case has sparked a much larger conversation about the safety standards at theme parks across the country. Amusement parks sell themselves as places of joy and excitement, but this case shows just how quickly those thrills can turn into tragedies when proper safety protocols aren’t followed.
According to safety expert Ban Choi, who testified during the trial, the design of the ride’s exit system was inherently flawed — particularly for older or less physically agile guests. Walking off a moving walkway onto stationary ground creates an unexpected shift in balance, which can easily lead to slips, stumbles, and falls.
The theme park industry likes to emphasize the incredibly low risk of serious injury, citing data from the IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) showing that the odds of a serious injury at an amusement park are 1 in 15.5 million rides. But Morrison’s case serves as a stark reminder that statistics mean nothing when safety shortcuts result in real harm to real people.
Morrison’s case may be over, but the lessons from her fall shouldn’t be forgotten. Theme parks are designed to deliver nonstop fun, but when operational speed takes priority over basic safety, it’s the guests — particularly older visitors and young children — who pay the price. For Morrison, no amount of money will undo the damage to her body or her sense of independence, but her legal victory sends a clear message: safety can’t be optional, even in the most magical places on earth.