A disabled man who was stuck on Disneyland's "It's A Small World" ride for 30 minutes — while the theme song played on — has won a lawsuit against the Anaheim theme park.
Disneyland paid disabled Jose Martinez $8,000 damages for failing to evacuate him when the ride broke down a day after Thanksgiving in 2009.
Martinez, of San Pedro in Los Angeles County, is in his 50s and paralyzed, needing a wheelchair. He was reportedly stuck in the "Goodbye Room" when the ride broke down.
However, he also suffers from panic attacks and high blood pressure, both of which became an issue as he sat in the boat with the "Small World" song playing over and over, his attorney, David Geffen said, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
The condition was aggravated by Martinez's need to urinate, Geffen said, adding that his client could not medically stabilize for three hours after the ride broke down.
The court awarded Martinez damages for pain and suffering, and for disability law violations.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press cited Disneyland spokeswoman Suzi Brown as saying that the theme park provided appropriate assistance during the incident and was disappointed in the court decision.
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