A 57-year-old North Hills woman has reached a tentative settlement of her lawsuit against Universal City Studios LLC, in which she said she fell and suffered a torn ACL after being surprised by a performer who unexpectedly jumped into her path during Halloween Horror Nights.
Tracey Ann Manis contended in her Burbank Superior Court negligence/premises liability lawsuit that the actor unexpectedly jumped into her path in the Harry Potter ride area. On Friday, Manis’ attorney filed court papers with Judge Lee Arian notifying him of a “conditional” resolution of the case with the expectation a request for dismissal will be filed by March 16.
No terms were divulged.
In their previous court papers, Universal attorneys denied Manis’ allegations, stated that any damages the plaintiff suffered were “attributable to the failure of plaintiff to mitigate her damages or injuries,” and called for her lawsuit to be dismissed.
According to Manis’ suit filed last April 3, her “chronic pain and discomfort detrimentally affects all facets of her daily life.”
Actors in costumes and makeup try to “spook and startle” guests of the theme park during the annual Halloween Horror Nights events, including the Harry Potter ride area where Manis was walking with her family on Oct. 12, 2023, the suit stated.
Without warning, one of the performers “suddenly and without warning jumped out or stepped directly into plaintiff’s path and made physical contact with her, which caused her to trip, lose her balance and fall hard to the ground,” the suit alleged.
Manis suffered serious injuries to her legs, ankles and knees, according to the suit, which further stated that park workers gave her ice packs and provided her with a wheelchair. Her pain grew worse when she returned home and she was later diagnosed with a left ACL tear and degenerative arthritis in her left knee, according to the suit, which also stated that she suffers from chronic right ankle and foot pain.
The park had an obligation to adequately train, monitor and supervise employees performing for guests during Halloween Horror Nights events so that they do not jump or step directly into the paths of visitors, the suit stated.