Disney has announced that it will no longer block a wrongful death lawsuit brought against it from going to trial. The company has decided to waive its rights and allow the claimant to pursue their case in court.
The lawsuit in question was brought by the husband of a woman who died after eating at a Disney resort. The victim, Kanokporn Tangsuan, lost her life after allegedly suffering an allergic reaction from a meal she ate at the resort restaurant in 2023.
Her husband, Jeffrey Piccolo, brought charges against the entertainment company with a $50,000 claim. But he met fierce resistance in his bid to argue his case before a jury. Disney had argued that the widower couldn’t sue for damages. The reason? A clause in his Disney+ streaming service contract.
Disney stated that Piccolo was bound by a subscriber agreement in his Disney+ contract when he signed up for a one-month trial some years back. The clause stated that users couldn’t sue the company in court over any disputes. Instead, they could only take the case to arbitration.
Therefore, Disney applied to the court to move the case to arbitration. The company also based its appeal on the allegation that Piccolo bought Epcot Center tickets using the Walt Disney Parks’ website. According to them, this action means they can’t face a lawsuit from the victim’s estate.
Disney Backs Down
In an unexpected twist, Disney announced that it would no longer block the plaintiff from seeking redress in court. In a statement the company made available to journalists, the chairman of Disney Experiences, Josh D’Amaro, stated that Disney would stop trying to enforce its right to arbitration.
“At Disney, we strive to put humanity above all other considerations. With such unique circumstances as the ones in this case, we believe this situation warrants a sensitive approach to expedite a resolution for the family who have experienced such a painful loss,” the statement read. “As such, we’ve decided to waive our right to arbitration and have the matter proceed in court.”
Kanokporn Tangsuan, before her unfortunate death, was a doctor at NYU. She had a meal at a Disney Springs complex restaurant in October 2023. After the meal, she reportedly died of “anaphylaxis due to elevated levels of dairy and nut in her system.” Before her death, she received multiple assurances that the meal was free of allergens.
In February 2024, her husband brought separate lawsuits against the independently run restaurant and Disney. The widower wants Disney to pay for medical expenses, funeral costs, loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and loss of income.
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What Makes Disney So Special?
Over a hundred years ago, Walt Disney, fresh out of business bankruptcy, had an idea. He planned to produce short films and release them to a distributor. With the support of his brother Roy, he executed his plan. But little did he know that it would birth the largest entertainment conglomerate in the world.
Now, the company has penetrated almost every American household. Hardly anyone hasn’t enjoyed a Disney movie, television network, theme park, merchandise, or vacation destination.
Over the years, one attribute that has set Disney apart is its innovative spirit. They have a gift of captivating the mind. From providing fantastic leisure experiences to bringing fictional characters to life, they’ve demonstrated an amazing level of genius throughout.
What Are 3 Facts About Disney?
There are a whole lot of fun facts about Disney that aren’t popular knowledge. But we will stop at perhaps three of the most captivating ones. First, Disney’s widely-loved mascot, Mickey Mouse, is way older than many people think. The character came on the scene as far back as 1928. That’s almost a whopping 100 years ago.
Secondly, you are likely to scratch your head if you were to guess Disney’s first animated feature film. That’s because there are quite a number of them that could fit the bill. Interestingly, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was Disney’s first attempt at a full-length animated feature in 1937.
Lastly, all Disney princesses are fictional except Pocahontas. Pocahontas is a Native American icon who is credited with brokering peace between her people and English colonists. The real name of the princess was Matoaka and she was born around the year 1596.
How Does Disney Make Their Money?
Reports show that the global revenue of the Walt Disney Company as of 2023 stood at a staggering $88.9 billion. Statistics also show that the entertainment segment of their operations generates more money for them. Disney Entertainment raked in $40.64 billion of the total figure.
Its Experiences segment was its second-biggest revenue source, with $32.55 billion. This comprises the Disney parks, which are the most-visited amusement and theme parks in the world. Next was its sports segment, which includes the popular ESPN channel.
Sports generated about $17 billion for the company. Hence, settling a $50,000 wrongful death lawsuit is more or less a piece of cake for the company than you would imagine.
Who Owns the Most in Disney?
As you would expect, a company as large as Disney is likely owned by multiple parties. But if you are wondering which partner has the largest share of the cake, we’ve got your answer right here.
Disney’s biggest shareholder is the Vanguard Group. The institution has a 7.57% holding in the company, which amounts to over $12.3 billion as of August 2024. On an individual basis, the largest shareholders are Christine M. McCarthy and Robert Iger, each with 0.01% of the company’s total shares.
McCarthy has served as the company’s treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in the past, while Iger has had a stint as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Iger’s net worth is in the region of $350 million as of 2023.
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