Trial Magazine

Charlene Janson, 52, was attending the Great Frederick Fair with her nephew, who asked her to ride with him on the Space Ride, an amusement ride that had a 48-inch height maximum. Janson, who is 63 inches tall, did not see any signage about the ride’s height restrictions but asked the ride attendant whether she was permitted to go on the Space Ride. After helping her nephew into his seat, Janson stepped from the platform into the boat-like ride to take her own seat. She fell from the platform, sustaining a fractured left foot and other injuries that necessitated two surgeries, including fusion surgery. Janson now walks with a limp and has mobility issues, including difficulty with stairs.

Janson sued Reithoffer Shows, Inc., the carnival operator that owned and operated the rides at the fair, alleging that the Space Ride’s platform was too narrow and that the defendant had failed to ensure that the ride’s rules and restrictions were enforced.

Suit did not claim lost income or past medical expenses.

The jury awarded $350,000.

Citation: Janson v. Reithoffer Shows, Inc., No. DLB-19-79 (D. Md. May 20, 2021).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ members Deborah L. Potter and Suzanne V. Burnett, both of Bowie, Md.