Family will not sue after alligator attack

[ssmjlm]

www.doctordisney.com/2016/07/20/parents-child-killed-alligator-walt-disney-world-will-not-sue-company/




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[countthestars]

Those poor parents. I can't even imagine. I don't think I'd want to sue either - I don't think I could handle a lawsuit, emotionally.

[miss1180]

I'm glad to see they're being reasonable! It's a horrible accident that really was no ones direct fault. They were just doing what tons of other families do. And no amount of money will bring their son back... Plus I get the impression they aren't hurting for money anyway ( not that that would be a reason to sue. I'm just saying they probably realize money isn't everything.)
I'm sure Disney will or already has made a contribution to the fund...

[beeks]

No doubt Disney gave them a HUGE settlement. Disney is far from stupid.

[lala]

Jul 20, 2016 14:53:05 GMT -5 beeks said:

No doubt Disney gave them a HUGE settlement. Disney is far from stupid.

Do you really think they'd offer them money before they even brought a lawsuit? If they did, I would assume the family couldn't mention it at all?SaveSave

[alleinesein]

Jul 20, 2016 16:01:56 GMT -5 lala said:

Jul 20, 2016 14:53:05 GMT -5 beeks said:

No doubt Disney gave them a HUGE settlement. Disney is far from stupid.

Do you really think they'd offer them money before they even brought a lawsuit? If they did, I would assume the family couldn't mention it at all?SaveSave

Yup.  They have done it in the past for other incidents.  It is SOP at some companies to offer a settlement first to prevent a lawsuit.

We had a CM at my work location sue Disney.  They offered her a settlement agreement and then she was stupid and blabbed the details and lost out on all the $$ since she violated the agreement by disclosing the details.

[calmcosmo]

Jul 20, 2016 16:01:56 GMT -5 lala said:

Jul 20, 2016 14:53:05 GMT -5 beeks said:

No doubt Disney gave them a HUGE settlement. Disney is far from stupid.

Do you really think they'd offer them money before they even brought a lawsuit? If they did, I would assume the family couldn't mention it at all?SaveSave

Absolutely!

As a matter of fact, I'd bet a bunch that this statement was required by the settlement.

They got money. I can't believe people would even consider otherwise. Disney would have had to deal with a PR nightmare of this went to trial. This is a win-win for both Disney and the Graves. But to think they didn't get anything is extremely naive.

[lala]

Well, I totally agree that they would never go to trial over it - Disney would only do that if they knew they would absolutely win and it wouldn't be bad PR.

I just usually hear that people aren't allowed to mention any of it as the terms of the settlement/pay off/whatever you want to call it.

[Deleted]

I would need a large payout if this happened to me. Because I wouldn't be able to work, really take care of myself and would need TONS of mental health care. Like for the rest of my life likely.

[beeks]

Yup, and sadly they do it often with other injuries/accidents.

[katrinabennett]

And it was totally negligent on the part of Disney. They fed the alligators

[TBM]

Jul 26, 2016 10:10:32 GMT -5 katrinabennett said:

And it was totally negligent on the part of Disney. They fed the alligators

Do you have a source?  

Everything that I have read said that Disney firefighters, not "Disney", had been feeding the ones near the firehouse, which I believe, (again from something that I read from a news feed) is in an area not connected to the same waterways as the resorts.  They were told to stop.

Guests have been known to feed alligators, and honestly, I could see them doing that whether they were asked not to or not, since we see them doing it all the time with other animals in the parks, despite the signs saying not to feed the the wildlife.

[lala]

Lol that Disney fed the alligators. Yes, please give me a legit source. Idiot guests & cast members I'm sure. But disney officially? No freaking way.

More reason to teach your children not to feed any wildlife. Not geese at the park or zoo, not alligators at Disney.

[katrinabennett]

Jul 26, 2016 10:37:17 GMT -5 TBM said:

Jul 26, 2016 10:10:32 GMT -5 katrinabennett said:

And it was totally negligent on the part of Disney. They fed the alligators

Do you have a source?  

Everything that I have read said that Disney firefighters, not "Disney", had been feeding the ones near the firehouse, which I believe, (again from something that I read from a news feed) is in an area not connected to the same waterways as the resorts.  They were told to stop.

Guests have been known to feed alligators, and honestly, I could see them doing that whether they were asked not to or not, since we see them doing it all the time with other animals in the parks, despite the signs saying not to feed the the wildlife.

The firefighters worked for Disney.
There are emails from someone in Disney to the firefighters saying 'people saw you feeding the alligators, please stop'
And then they continued.
There aren't any pics of them actually feeding them but ...more than one sighting.




t was brought to our attention firefighters are feeding the alligators (this is illegal)," Rogers' email said. "The communicators have found [one alligator] by the station, near the dumpster, and where they park their cars. As you can imagine this is making the communicators nervous because they are fearful of walking to their car and their leg becoming dinner. We have notified Animal Control to remove the alligator. In the interim could you ask your crews to stop feeding the gator."

Classe said Disney's animal-control department was contacted but he did not know whether either alligator was ever removed. Classe said the firefighters received "just a talking to and reminding — `Guys and gals, we know this isn't right, so just don't.'"

A Disney spokeswoman did not know Wednesday afternoon whether the gator had been removed.

Typically nuisance gators under 4 feet are relocated. Larger ones are trapped and killed by the state. The alligator that attacked Lane was estimated to be between 4 and 7 feet.

After Rogers' initial email, he sent another one to Reedy Creek communications employees. "Several people have expressed concern of becoming alligator food because the alligator is seen out of the pond near the building, by the dumpster, and near the cars," he wrote. "The firefighters feeding the alligator only aggravates the situation..... Animal Control has been notified and I have spoken to B/C Brown requesting they tell the firefighters to stop feeding the alligator. He has already spoken to members of his crew and has passed this on to the other shifts."

[countthestars]

katrinabennett, Disney found out that one or more employees were feeding gators and they took corrective actions to stop it. Disney was not feeding them. Do I think they could have had better signage? Yes, I do. Do I think it was "totally negligent" - no.

[ilikedonuts]

Dude, Disney can't control what every freaking employee does. They weren't telling employees to feed them.

[katrinabennett]

Jul 26, 2016 12:18:24 GMT -5 ilikedonuts said:

Dude, Disney can't control what every freaking employee does. They weren't telling employees to feed them.

But you are responsible for your employees.
I will still go there and think they are an amazing company.
Negligent? Maybe not. As long as they did their best to avoid the situation, then no. But I don't know all the details.

[countthestars]

^o)

First you said they were "totally negligent". Then ou posted an article that said that they sent multiple emails telling the employees to stop. Now you're saying maybe they weren't negligent and that you don't know all the details. And you would like to plan a trip there. I'm not trying to pick on you but you came out with guns blazing.

[ilikedonuts]

Jul 26, 2016 13:10:46 GMT -5 katrinabennett said:

Jul 26, 2016 12:18:24 GMT -5 ilikedonuts said:

Dude, Disney can't control what every freaking employee does. They weren't telling employees to feed them.

But you are responsible for your employees.
I will still go there and think they are an amazing company.
Negligent? Maybe not. As long as they did their best to avoid the situation, then no. But I don't know all the details.

And they fixed the problem as soon as they found out about their employees. They don't have a crystal ball. They can't see into the future to know which employees are going to be assholes.

So are they negligent or not? your story is changing as people disagree with you.

[ilikedonuts]

Jul 26, 2016 13:19:06 GMT -5 countthestars said:

First you said they were "totally negligent". Then ou posted an article that said that they sent multiple emails telling the employees to stop. Now you're saying maybe they weren't negligent and that you don't know all the details. And you would like to plan a trip there. I'm not trying to pick on you but you came out with guns blazing.

Seriously. If disney is so negligent why would you want to go there? I just don't get how something like gators in florida is disney's fault. they can't control every person nor every animal.

[katrinabennett]

I'm not sure why everyone is attacking me.
I am agreeing that they made a settlement because they were aware of their negligence or potential negligence in a suit.
I wasn't trying to diss Disney. I know alligators = Florida
Whoa.
I wasn't trying to start something. But on the other hand, I don't think Disney is completely off the hook here.

[lala]

If they made a settlement it doesn't mean they were "aware they were negligent." They don't want bad press or a lawsuit AND I am willing to be they feel absolutely, positively horrible. Even if it wasn't their fault. A baby died on their property. Many people will ASSUME Disney is negligent if there was a settlement, but it doesn't make it so.

We are questioning you b/c you said this:

And it was totally negligent on the part of Disney. They fed the alligators

Which has not bee proven and no one believes.

[ilikedonuts]

I'm sure they settled in large part because they feel freaking horrible that a family lost their child while there.

Yeah there is a lot of large corporate greed out there everywhere but it doesn't mean every company is run by heartless jerks.

[Deleted]

Jul 26, 2016 10:37:17 GMT -5 TBM said:

Jul 26, 2016 10:10:32 GMT -5 katrinabennett said:

And it was totally negligent on the part of Disney. They fed the alligators

Do you have a source?  

Everything that I have read said that Disney firefighters, not "Disney", had been feeding the ones near the firehouse, which I believe, (again from something that I read from a news feed) is in an area not connected to the same waterways as the resorts.  They were told to stop.

Guests have been known to feed alligators, and honestly, I could see them doing that whether they were asked not to or not, since we see them doing it all the time with other animals in the parks, despite the signs saying not to feed the the wildlife.

Disney Firefighters are fire fighters for the town of Reedy Creek. Very few people actual live in Reedy Creek. Mostly former CMs & families.