The Happiest Place On Earth has had its share of issues lately. Between park-goers breaking out into fights and patrons simply breaking rules, it’s been a rough go. But now a new issue has arisen. 81-year-old park guest Paul Perez has filed a lawsuit against Disney after a K9 unit “attacked him after bumping into it.”
Perez was attacked in May 2022. The civil lawsuit was filed August 1st, 2023 and accused The Walt Disney Co. theme park division of extreme negligence. Perez is demanding restitution for “physical wound, pain, suffering, emotional distress, and the cost of past and future medical treatment” according to the Orange County Register. Allegedly, the handler for the dog moved the animal in front of Perez, causing him to bump into the animal. That seemed to be the only motivation the K9 unit needed to lunge at Perez, biting him in the stomach.
Perez was promptly rushed to the hospital where he was treated for his injuries. And while they weren’t life-threatening, they’re extremely damaging. Especially for an elderly man who just wanted to enjoy a day at a theme park with his family. A court hearing is scheduled for January 2024. But things like this are always up in the air as to the outcome. Especially given Disney’s terrifying army of lawyers. But hopefully the park division will do the right thing and provide compensation for an injury that seems likely to have been the fault of the K9 handler.
