Management Of Morey's Pier In Wildwood Ignored Advanced Warnings Of Amusement Ride Collapse, Which Caused Serious Injuries To N.J. Youth, Alleges Suit Filed Today

MARLTON, N.J., Aug. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Thirteen-year-old Gia Mastroserio had no idea of what might be in store for her when she got on the Sea Dragon ride at Morey's Pier in Wildwood, New Jersey on August 19, 2011. But officials of the popular amusement park apparently knew about the danger of the ride that badly injured Mastroserio that day.

A civil lawsuit filed today on behalf of the youth by Marlton-based law firm Dansky, Katz, Ringold & York  in New Jersey Superior Court alleges that Morey's Pier Inc. received first notice of the likelihood of malfunction of the Sea Dragon ride more than nine years prior to the accident, but ignored it.

A large steel ornament, which served as the mast of ride, collapsed and fell on Mastroserio and others that day.  Both the manufacturer, Chance Rides Inc. of Wichita, Kansas, and Morey's knew the ride was unsafe and subject to the type of mechanical failure that happened that day, according to the suit. Chance Rides had long recommended that the mast be either removed or subjected to rigorous inspection and maintenance, if left on the ride, said the suit.

Morey's did not remove the mast, nor did it properly maintain it, alleges the law suit. The State of New Jersey closed the ride following this incident in 2011, noting corrosion caused the mast to break and fall.

As a result of the negligence of Morey's Piers and the resulting accident, Mastroserio suffered serious eye injuries, permanent facial and body scarring and still suffers severe physical and emotional pain, according to the lawsuit.

"Morey's Pier clearly put profits ahead of the safety of the children in this case," said Michael S. Dansky, senior partner of the firm representing the victim.

The lawsuit seeks both compensatory and punitive damages from Morey's Pier, Dansky explained.

"There has been a lot of news lately about amusement park negligence all over the country. This is a blatant example of gross negligence on the part of Morey's.  We, of course, want to make sure our client is fairly compensated for her injuries, but we also want to try to ensure that children in the future will not be victimized by unsafe rides at Morey's," said Dansky.

Mastroserio is a resident of Middlesex County, New Jersey where this suit was filed.

Dansky, Katz, Ringold & York is a law firm based in Marlton, with offices in Woodbury New Jersey and Philadelphia. It concentrates its practice in trial law in the personal injury area.

SOURCE Dansky, Katz, Ringold & York