SKETCHES OF COURT: $1.5M damage award granted in Cyclone roller coaster injury suit
Plaintiff Partially at Fault for Injury
In this courtroom sketch, Hon. Kathy King listens while the unified trial of Paula Noone v. City of New York, Astroland Kiddie Park Inc. and Cycle Coasters, Inc. unfolds in Kings County Civil Term.
The plaintiff, represented by Thomas Giuffra (seated, left) of the law firm Rheingold, Valet, Rheingold, McCartney & Giuffra, claims that taking a ride in June 2006 on the Coney Island Cyclone roller-coaster caused her to exhibit symptoms of acute distress, for which she needed emergency surgery the same day to relieve compression on her spinal cord.
The defendants, represented by Scott Taylor (standing) of the law firm Rosenbaum & Taylor, countered with arguments including that the plaintiff had assumed the risk of taking the ride that was concurrently being enjoyed by hundreds of riders, and that the ride, which was built in 1927, was in compliance with city inspections and amusement industry safety standards.