Posted on 08/22/2009 6:21:25 AM PDT by KeyLargo
Dolphins Blamed For Woman's Slip And Fall
Allecyn Edwards, possibly wanting to prove she could be as creative as her parents were with her first name, alleged in a complaint filed August 18 that the Brookfield Zoo and its dolphins are responsible for injuries she suffered last year.
Yessss . . . Just a Little Closer to the Pool, Human Edwards alleges that the zoo "recklessly and willfully trained and encouraged" its dolphins to "throw water at the spectators . . . making the floor wet and slippery." The zoo and/or its dolphin accomplices are therefore blamed for the creation of said dangerous condition, by which "the plaintiff was caused to fall to the ground while walking upon or along the said area." Edwards demands $50,000.
A few observations. First, based on my extensive Discovery Channel research, most dolphins live in water, either a pool of it or, in some extreme cases, an entire ocean. It appears to be not uncommon for surfaces near these bodies of water to become wet and slippery. One walking on such surfaces should, therefore, watch out. Second, the closer a surface is to a body of water, the more likely said surface is to be wet and slippery. Third, dolphins, so far as I can tell, do not have arms and so are not likely to be able to "throw" water any distance, as plaintiff alleged. I infer from these facts that plaintiff was in fact walking relatively close to the pool and so would have had ample reason to be careful.
Certainly, dolphins are guilty of all sorts of wrongdoing, like . . . well, they are probably getting away with something. You can't prove they aren't. But I'm just saying they probably aren't responsible in this particular case.
Link: Chicago Bar-tender http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-bar-tender/2009/08/brookfield-zoo-sued-for-dolphin-splash-leading-to-slip-and-fall.html
I hope the dolphins have deep pockets.........
They left the stadium Griese?
Flipper flips Human!
The dolphins ARE trained to throw water a long distance from their pool, so the author’s argument that since Dolphins don’t have arms they can’t throw the water is silly.
A better argument, should one be needed, would be the huge signs posted all along the wall of the tank that says “you will get wet”, along with the caution signs and the big marked area called the “soak zone”.
Sad that we actually need signs, but I’m betting they had all the signs they needed.
I was walking in Smoky Mountain National Park last week, along a mountain trail to a waterfall, and all along the trail they had signs that said there were steep dropoffs and you needed to watch your children.
But the signs weren’t in spanish..... :-)
Attack of the killer dolphins.
If this woman couldn’t figure out that water is slippery and she should watch her step, she shouldn’t be allowed outside for the rest of her life. God help he if it should rain.
It’s early yet....8^)
So long and thanks for all the fish. So sad it had to come to this.
Revised book title..........
Flipper unfortunately regressed and got a job at McDonalds.......
Calling John Edwards...calling John Edwards.
On narrow trails with steep dropoffs, I don't need signs telling me to be careful.
In fact, the only sign needed that I would likely ignore would be the one that said "Don't be a chicken, you can make it...."
Too stupid to walk and pay attention to the ground at the same time. Probably so out of shape that when she fell she needed 6 people to hoist her up. I bet she was wearing heels to the zoo too, and pissed and moaned the whole time about having to walk.
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