Judge and gavel

PREMISES LIABILITY

MIAMI-DADE CIRCUIT COURT

A jury sided with Miami in a lawsuit filed by the parents of a girl who was injured at the city's Grapeland Water Park.

The girl, 11 at the time of the August 2015 incident, collided with a boy at the bottom of a water slide, damaging two teeth. Her parents contended the lifeguard was not properly stationed and that, as a result, the boy was allowed to stand at the mouth of the slide.

The defense argued the lifeguard had to inspect all areas of the slide and a splash pool and consequently could not stay in one place. The defense also contended the boy's parents should have been watching him. The jury found no wrongdoing by the park's staff.

Case: Valdes v. City of Miami

Case No.: 2018-004465-CA-01

Plaintiffs attorney: Eli Kaplan, Kaplan & Miller, Coral Gables

Defense attorney: Richard M. Gomez, Law Offices of Gomez & Gomez, Miami