Twin brothers filed lawsuits against Universal Orlando on Friday, claiming they were hurt late last year when a new Harry Potter ride at Epic Universe malfunctioned.
The lawsuits were filed by 45-year-old brothers Derrick Burrough of Tennessee and Erick Burrough of Georgia. Each brother filed separately and is represented by the law firm Morgan & Morgan.
According to the complaints, the brothers allege they were “thrusted erratically” when Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry suddenly stopped due to a malfunction while they were riding on Christmas Day last year. They claim the incident caused “significant” back and neck injuries, resulting in the “loss of ability to lead and enjoy a normal life.”
Each brother is seeking damages in excess of $50,000 and demanding a jury trial.
The lawsuits allege negligence, stating that Universal failed to maintain the attraction in a reasonably safe condition and did not adequately warn riders about potential hazards that the company “knew or should have known” existed.
“The most important job of a theme park is to keep its guests safe. Instead, Universal allegedly operated a ride that had been plagued by repeated malfunctions, glitches and hard stops since it opened,” the news release from Morgan & Morgan stated.
The complaints describe the brothers experiencing “disability, physical impairment, disfigurement, mental anguish and inconvenience; expense of hospitalization, medical and nursing care and treatment; and past lost wages, loss of earning power and diminished earning capacity.”
Morgan & Morgan said the lawsuits are intended to hold Universal responsible for what the firm describes as an “entirely preventable” incident.
Like other modern attractions, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry employs safety systems with redundancies. Sudden stoppages can occur when sensors detect irregular conditions and trigger automatic safeguards.
All rides can experience occasional malfunctions, but newer attractions, especially those with advanced technology, may have increased downtime as systems are refined. Such interruptions alone are not necessarily evidence of a safety issue.
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry debuted with Universal Orlando’s newest theme park, Epic Universe, which officially opened on May 22, 2025.
Guests board an elevator-style ride vehicle, described by Universal as a “magical, omnidirectional lift,” to travel deep through the British Ministry of Magic for the long-awaited trial of the infamous Dolores Umbridge. When Umbridge attempts to escape, the trial quickly spirals into chaos. Riders join Harry, Ron, and Hermione in a fast-paced pursuit through the Ministry, dodging Death Eaters and dangerous creatures along the way.
Stay tuned to AttractionInsight.com and follow our social media channels for more Universal news and beyond.
