Parents of boy killed by alligator at Disney resort will not sue

[uawchild]

Source: Reuters

The parents of a two-year-old boy drowned by an alligator at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida last month "are broken" but will not sue over the incident, the couple said in a statement on Wednesday.

Lane Graves was playing at the edge of the Seven Seas Lagoon at the Walt Disney World's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa on June 14 when he was snatched by an alligator and dragged into the water. His parents rushed to save their child but failed to pry him free from the predator's grip, as a second alligator attacked during the rescue attempt.

Graves, whose family was vacationing from Nebraska, was found by divers a day later at the bottom of the manmade lake.
"Melissa and I are broken. We will forever struggle to comprehend why this happened to our sweet baby, Lane," parents Matt and Melissa Graves said in the statement. "As each day passes, the pain gets worse."

Despite their grief, the couple said they would focus on the development of a charitable foundation named after their son and would not file a lawsuit.

"In addition to the foundation, we will solely be focused on the future health of our family and will not be pursuing a lawsuit against Disney," the parents said.

Walt Disney Co has had more than 240 "nuisance" alligators captured and killed over the last 10 years at its theme park property in Orange County, Florida.

At the time of the attack on Graves, the resort had "No Swimming" signs that did not mention alligators. Disney has since installed signs by the lagoon warning guests of alligators and snakes.

"Danger! Alligators and snakes in area," read the new signs, which feature diagrams of the two animals. "Stay away from the water. Do not feed the wildlife."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-florida-alligator-child-idUSKCN100237

[uawchild]

1. It's their decision to make...

But, I personally feel they should sue and put any compensation awarded towards their foundation

[no_hypocrisy]

2. They could have preemptively settled with Disney with the promise not to sue.

[cstanleytech]

20. Wouldnt surprise me if thats what happened but if it did I am ok with it. nt

[Roy Rolling]

3. Let me translate

"Will not sue" = "Disney paid enough to satisfy us"

Which is a fair way to resolve it without a protracted public legal battle.

[uawchild]

6. that's a possibility, I hope you are correct n/t

[csziggy]

34. Or maybe they settled for the "charitable foundation" they are developing

In the name of their son. Disney could finance it generously, the parents get the satisfaction that their son's name lives on, and Disney could deduct the expense as a contribution to the "charitable foundation."

[sinkingfeeling]

4. I'll call them really decent people.

[underpants]

12. They must be crushed

I really can't imagine. I can empathize but luckily never having to deal with something like this I can't fully understand what they have gone through.

[840high]

26. Yes. Class.

[Mika]

5. Another murderous corporation off the hook.

Maybe they'll finally enforce the "don't feed the alligators" rules within their own ranks of employees.
Don't hold your breath for that.

[edhopper]

7. Because Disney

already gave them a settlement, no doubt.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

8. The suits at Disney probably think gators are lovable horn players.....

[uawchild]

9. too soon n/t

[Spitfire of ATJ]

13. I have nothing but contempt for them....

You just KNOW the FIRST thing they thought of was their own image.

[They_Live]

24. Pretty sure that ATJ was referring to Disney

and not the parents.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

28. Who the hell do you think I'm criticizing?

[yeoman6987]

29. I thought the parents.

[yeoman6987]

30. I deleted. I misinterpreted your reply. I apologize.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

32. No worries.

[rocktivity]

10. If they suddenly have the means to start a foundation

I guess there's no NEED for them to sue...


rocktivity

[kairos12]

11. Their pain must be unfathomable.

[uawchild]

14. truly n/t

[DesertRat]

16. I can't even imagine their pain and anguish

[jonno99]

27. Agreed. In fact, I don't even want to think any more about it - bye...nt

[benld74]

15. More prayers to the family

[Corgigal]

17. DU has gotten so mean lately

Disney has probably offered them everything. No amount of money is going to fix it. I'm sure they have enough funds for living and their little girl. If these parents stay alive, after seeing what they did, it's that baby girl who is gonna pull them through. Not Disney funds. Who I'm sure gave them funds, no number would be correct.

[elmac]

18. I don't think Disney is the type of company

that would pinch pennies when it comes to settlements like this. Its bad for biz and bad for reputation being the type of biz they are in. They have plenty of insurance to take care of large settlements without affecting their bottom line. I hope the family received a fair settlement and it seems that they can move on with the development of a charitable foundation.

[cosmicone]

19. Disney lawyers probably approached and gave a fair settlement

No need for them to split it with some sleazy lawyer and go through the hell of a lawsuit.

[SpankMe]

21. Your kid killed by an alligator before your eyes - too painful to think about. n/t

[fasttense]

22. Disney should NOT have built an imaginary world for children in an alligator filled swamp

"240 "nuisance" alligators captured and killed over the last 10 years."

The alligators were there first. Disney should not have built a park that attracts children in a place designed for alligators.

The family will suffer for decades and Disney will continue killing alligators in their swamps. Makes me wonder how many other people have been killed or injured by alligators at this Disney swamp.

[Coventina]

25. Nailed it. The alligators and the customers lose, while the environmental nightmare continues.

[Xithras]

31. Technically, Disney didn't build a park in an alligator filled swamp.

In the 1960's, when Disney World was being planned, the American Alligator was considered a critically endangered species and many assumed that it was headed toward extinction. When Disney selected the site, most of Florida's alligator population was further to the south and alligator sightings were rare around Orlando. In that era, even the most optimistic environmentalists were simply hoping that the species could be preserved with viable populations in the various protected swamps and parks, but presumed that they were permanently extirpated elsewhere.

And then, in 1973, the Endangered Species Act was passed and the American Alligator was one of the first animals placed under its protection. Recovery plans were put into place, illegal hunting was stopped, and the alligator was protected. By the early 80's the populations were downgraded to merely being "threatened", and in the late 80's they were delisted because the populations were exploding.

Basically, when Disney built Disneyworld, there were no alligators there and they assumed that there would never be alligators there again. They had no way of knowing that the ESA would bring the alligators back.

[Xolodno]

35. Add to that...

Dick Nunis had a wave making machine installed near the Polynesian Resort so he could "surf". And lets go further, the abandoned water park of River Country was connected directly to the man made lake.

There were no alligators when Walt....and following CEO's built Disney World....nor did they expect any. Hell, I remember watching Mike Eisner "walking the beach" near the Grand Floridian on an episode of the revamped Disney Sunday Night Movie.

It was an awful tragedy. But at the same time, wasn't expected. Disney is self insured, which means, they probably payed out a settlement larger than any lawyer could get.

[Eleanors38]

33. Suing Disney is like shooting at the battleship Missouri with a BB gun.