When you go to visit the mouse the last thing you expect is that you might get bitten by a rat, but a lawsuit filed earlier this month in Orange County claims that is exactly what happened to a man who was visiting Walt Disney World in April 2014.
The couple is seeking more than $15,000 in a suit that claims Galen Haldeman, 59, had ridden Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and was in a nearby merchandise store when he was bit. The lawsuit, which was filed in Orange County on March 19, claims he suffered debilitating medical problems that stem from the rat bite suffered at the park.
Haldeman was pushing his wife, Carol Haldeman, through the store in her wheelchair when the apparent rodent jumped onto the wheel of her chair and started moving toward her arm.
The lawsuit states:
“Just as the rat was about to bite into Carol’s arm, Galen grabbed the rat and yanked it off the chair. As he did so, the rat bit into one of Galen’s fingers. Galen had to twist the rat’s neck, and the rat fell to the floor where someone threw an empty plastic container over it”.
According to the lawsuit, a Disney employee came over and asked onlookers not to take any photographs.
“As a result of Disney’s negligence, Galen Haldeman was bitten by this rat and has been beset with debilitating medical problems ever since,” the suit said.
The couple is suing for ensuing medical expenses, physical handicap, disfigurement, mental anguish and other problems to the incident.
The Haldemans’ attorney and Disney were not immediately available for comment.