Woman sues over splashing dolphins

Last updated 10:38 21/08/2009

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A woman in the US is suing a Chicago-area zoo for a 2008 fall near a dolphin exhibit, accusing zookeepers of encouraging the mammals to splash water and then failing to protect spectators from wet surfaces.

In her suit filed earlier this week, Allecyn Edwards said she was injured while walking near an exhibit at Brookfield Zoo, where a group of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins were performing, local media said.

Officials "recklessly and wilfully trained and encouraged the dolphins to throw water at the spectators in the stands, making the floor wet and slippery," but failed to post warning signs or lay down protective mats or strips, the suit said, according to the reports.

Edwards is demanding more than US$50,000 for lost wages, medical expenses and emotional trauma from the Chicago Zoological Society and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, which operate the zoo in Chicago's southwest suburbs.

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- Reuters

21 comments
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Rodney   #21   03:11 pm Aug 24 2009

Sue the stupid dolphins, they should make them give part of their pay every week, if they only get paid in fish then they should have to post bits of fish to the woman every month.

That should fix im good, aye Cleatis

Bob   #20   12:43 pm Aug 24 2009

I want to sue her for the damage done to my brain trying to comprehend her infinite stupidity. There should be a sign around her neck "Warning, sub-moronic lifeform. Do not approach. Any attempt to interact may cause severe and permanent incredulity syndrome."

Carl   #19   08:46 pm Aug 23 2009

LOL ! Silllly foool !

Scott   #18   11:35 pm Aug 22 2009

Wow. And I thought the people I had to deal with were stupid. Next I suppose she'll go to the ocean and sue the beach patrol staff because her clothes were bleached in the sun, her car filled up with sand and her skin went all dry from the salt.

Besides, if they did put up a sign saying "water-tanks and water-surfaces may contain water", then they would end up back on here for putting up dumb signs!

Barrington   #17   03:36 pm Aug 22 2009

What is particularly silly about this case is the fact that the media even devotes time and space to it...it simply encourages frivolous lawsuits. But even more heinous is that the laws don't simply allow the legal process to dispense with this suit and brand this woman as a nut-job. Guess what Americans: somehow, someway...this idiot is costing you money. The time and effort to deal with this crap was paid for with your tax dollars. DEMAND a review of your legal processes NOW!!! Don't let this idiocy continue...it makes you look very silly on the world stage.

Jay T   #16   10:49 am Aug 22 2009

The death of common sense, only in America? Ya, outlawing smacking naughty kids that's a great example of common sense. Everything is illegal in nanny-state NZ.

g carter   #15   09:47 am Aug 22 2009

Steralise her, the last thing the world needs is people like this breeding

Heather Cuthill   #14   04:07 am Aug 22 2009

When you consider that the US justice system allows people to file ridiculous and frivolous claims every day, why should we be surprised? This is the same country that awarded damages to a woman who sued a fast food restaurant for not warning her that the coffee she just bought was hot.

Kate   #13   03:28 am Aug 22 2009

It's pretty well widely known when you are walking past one of the dolphin exhibits that there's going to be water all over the place. They even verbally warn people before hand that if you don't want to get wet you should sit at the back. Whatever happened to taking care to watch where you're going. Next she'll be suing the local council for not warning her that if she walks by the sea she might get wet and ruin her expensive shoes.

Rich   #12   10:36 pm Aug 21 2009

Hey, Americans. Don't feel too bad. Every country has residents of this calibre


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