Hobbsr: New Skyscraper Slide Named in Injury Lawsuit

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

New Skyscraper Slide Named in Injury Lawsuit

Have you ever been atop a tall building and been tempted to jump? If so, you are not alone. Now, you can give something a little like that a try and survive if you're visiting Southern California. But you might still get hurt. A skyscraper in Los Angeles boasting the Skyslide -- an attraction made of glass and attached to the outside of the 70th floor of the U.S. Bank Tower, the tallest American building west of Chicago -- is facing its first injury lawsuit.

A Bold Move

The Skyslide is 1,000 feet above downtown Los Angeles and only 45-feet long, releasing sliders onto an observation deck just one floor below, reports CBS News. It opened to the public last month and already the building owner owner is facing a negligence suit from a woman who argues the slide is poorly designed and injured her. She broke an ankle.

The plaintiffs are Gayle and Morty Yashar of New York and they complain about the Skyslide's design, seeking an unspecified amount of damages from the defendants, naming the building owner, and the concession company associated with the new observation deck attraction. The plaintiffs argue that the slide does not slow down enough at the end of the 45-foot ride, creating a hazard.

At the end of the slide in a run-out area is a stack of mats that, according to the plaintiffs, leave a gap that traps riders' feet. Gayle Yashar argues that she broke her ankle going down the slide and that the poor design is the cause of her injury.

The defendants told the Associated Press via a public relations representative that the lawsuit is under review, but did not respond to any substantive claims with respect to the safety of the new L.A. attraction. The lawsuit, filed less than a month after the attraction opened to the public, must be a little disconcerting, however. Before the attraction was opened, earlier in the year, Lucy Rumantir, head of U.S. operations for the U.S. Bank building's owner, issued a statement saying, "The Skyslide boasts a safe, thrilling experience unlike any other in the world."

Injured?

If you, like the plaintiffs in this case, visit a tourist attraction and find yourself injured due to a design flaw or defect or for any other reason, talk to a lawyer. Tell your story. Many personal injury attorneys consult for free or a minimal fee and will be happy to discuss your case.

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