Twin brothers sue Universal Orlando over alleged injuries on Epic Universe’s Harry Potter Ministry ride
Two separate lawsuits filed after Christmas Day visit
Two 45-year-old twin brothers have filed separate personal-injury lawsuits against Universal Orlando, alleging they were hurt while riding a Harry Potter-themed attraction at Universal’s Epic Universe park.
The brothers, Derrick Burrough and Erick Burrough, each seek damages exceeding $50,000 and request jury trials. The complaints describe injuries that include neck and back harm, ongoing pain, medical expenses, and claimed effects on work and daily life. The suits also allege non-economic damages such as diminished enjoyment of life.
What the complaints allege happened on the ride
The lawsuits center on the attraction known as “Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry,” located in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s Ministry of Magic area at Epic Universe. The ride is described in the filings as an “elevator” simulation in which a multi-passenger vehicle moves through the attraction with directional motion intended to replicate vertical travel and other movement.
In the brothers’ accounts, the ride experienced a malfunction and stopped abruptly, which they say caused them to be thrown or jolted in their seats. The complaints characterize the motion as erratic and forceful and contend that it resulted in significant injury.
Claims of negligence and failure to warn
The filings assert that Universal failed to maintain and operate the attraction in a reasonably safe condition. They also contend the company did not adequately warn guests of dangerous conditions the operator “knew or should have known” about.
The lawsuits seek compensation for alleged past and future medical costs, pain and suffering, disability or impairment, and lost wages or diminished earning capacity. The complaints describe the brothers’ alleged losses as ongoing or permanent.
Company response and what is not yet public
Universal Orlando has not publicly commented on the allegations in the filings. At this stage, the lawsuits represent the plaintiffs’ claims; they do not establish fault or confirm that a ride malfunction occurred as described.
Key details remain unclear in public records and statements, including the extent of the brothers’ medical treatment, whether any independent review corroborated a mechanical failure, and whether other guests reported similar problems on the same attraction on the same date.
Broader context: how large parks are regulated in Florida
Florida’s amusement-ride oversight system generally places inspection responsibility on the state for most parks and traveling rides, but large theme parks with more than 1,000 employees operate under a different framework that relies on in-house inspection programs rather than routine state inspections. The state retains authority to address safety issues under its broader regulatory powers, but the structure affects what records are routinely generated and how incidents may be documented.
What happens next
The cases will proceed through initial court steps, including responses from defendants and potential motions challenging legal sufficiency.
If the cases advance, discovery could include maintenance logs, operational records, and testimony about how the attraction functioned on the date alleged.
Outcomes could include dismissal, settlement, or trial, depending on how evidence and legal arguments develop.
In civil cases involving ride injuries, the central questions typically include what occurred during the ride cycle, what the operator knew or should have known, and whether warnings, design, maintenance, and operational decisions met applicable safety duties.