Slips, Screams, and Settlements
A ‘Leatherface’ Lawsuit Leaves a Mark
If you’re a horror film fan, you know how common it is for a would-be victim to trip and fall long enough to allow the killer chasing them to catch up and carry out some nasty deed. While this scene is a classic cliché of the genre, it would strike genuine
while wielding a fake chainsaw. As the frightened pair began running away from the grotesque antagonist, they slipped on a wet spot on the floor, just like in the movies. Instead of breaking character to help them, the actor playing the pretend psychopath continued to menace the two by standing above them with his torturous tool still in his hands. Claiming the incident left her and her granddaughter “extremely fearful and in mental distress and anguish,” Peters later sued Universal Studios for emotional distress and other injuries. After numerous trials, the suit was decided in Peters’ favor, resulting in a $15,000 judgment against Universal Studios for failure to keep its haunted house safe for occupants. While this case occurred in Florida, legal experts have opined that the verdict may have been the same in other states, since an unsafe wet floor wouldn’t be a reasonable expectation for anyone attending a haunted house attraction. While Hell’s High may have succeeded in frightening Peters and her granddaughter, the suit proves that horror-themed entertainment can sometimes be too scary, especially for the defendant’s legal counsel, and Leatherface is best encountered from the comfort of a TV or movie theater screen.
terror in anyone’s heart if it played out in the real world, especially when you’re a 57-year-old woman with her grandchild in tow.
In the late 1990s, Cleanthi Peters accompanied her 10-year- old granddaughter to a Hell’s High haunted house attraction at Universal Studios in Florida. As their walk-through was about to end, an actor portraying the menacing character Leatherface from the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” film franchise began chasing them
Post-Divorce Planning for Peaceful Presents
The holidays can be a stressful time for anyone, but they’re often even more demanding on divorced couples with children. In addition to coordinating when and where the kids will celebrate the festivities, separated or divorced parents often contend with a more pressing question: Who’s buying what for the kids? Here are a few ideas to make this season a smoother experience for everyone. Share and compare your shopping. Before buying presents this year, work with the other parent to develop ways to keep your individual purchases coherent. Asking your children to create wish lists in advance of the big day allows both parents to determine which gifts to purchase for each child. Splitting these tasks will help avoid duplicates under the tree and ensure your gifts bring happiness to your kids. Avoid a cash competition. As divorced parents of one or more young children, it’s unwise to use the upcoming festivities as a way to compete for your children’s affection by lavishing them with expensive gifts that your ex may not be able to match. To help maintain peace and make things more equitable, consider establishing an individual spending limit that each parent finds reasonable and respectful of the other’s financial
situation. By approaching the holidays as a united
front despite your differences, your
children will feel less pressure to choose sides during what should be a happy time of year for everyone. When in doubt, count on ‘Santa.’
When it comes to giving your kids a memorable Christmas, remember that perception is reality.
Neither parent should be the one to provide all the “best” gifts, as this may make the other one feel as if they didn’t contribute enough to the proceedings. If this is a concern for you or your former spouse, consider giving joint gifts or ones from “Santa.” This way, everyone can enjoy gift-giving without giving your child the impression that one parent provided more, and thus cared more, than the other.
2 — rbbfirm.com
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