In the enchanted world of Disney, not all stories bring the magic we hope for. A widower, Jeffrey Piccolo, is currently facing a complex legal battle against the iconic Walt Disney World Resort following the tragic death of his wife, Dr. Kanokporn Tangsuan. The incident, which occurred in October 2023 at the Raglan Road Irish Pub, reportedly involved an allergic reaction, leading to an unexpected turn in the happiest place on earth.
Disney’s response has been to invoke the terms of service from their streaming platform, Disney+. Their lawyers claim that by creating and signing up for a Disney+ account in 2019 and purchasing theme park tickets through this account in 2023, Piccolo agreed to a clause mandating that all disputes with Disney and its affiliates be settled out of court via arbitration. According to Disney, this agreement means Piccolo’s lawsuit should be dismissed and resolved out of court.
In an emotionally charged statement, Disney’s legal team expressed their condolences, emphasizing that the restaurant isn’t owned or operated by Disney, thus legally distancing themselves from the direct responsibility of the incident.
However, Piccolo’s attorney finds Disney’s stance bewildering and irrelevant to the tragic event, characterizing the reliance on streaming service terms as “outrageously unreasonable and unfair.” The lawyer stressed, “The idea that agreeing to a free trial would prevent someone from accessing a jury trial in any dispute with Disney is so unreasonable it shocks the judicial conscience.”
What are your thoughts on Disney’s defense strategy? Do you think streaming service terms should extend to such serious matters? Share your comments and join the conversation!
Source: Glenn Garner
