Lawsuit Claims Broken Ankle On LA Skyscraper Slide
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — A lawsuit claims a woman suffered a broken ankle on a recently opened glass-enclosed slide attached to the exterior of a downtown Los Angeles skyscraper.
The lawsuit filed Wednesday against building owner OUE Skyspace LLC and a concession company claims negligence.
Fifty-seven-year-old Gayle Yashar and husband Morty Yashar of Woodmere, New York, seek unspecified damages.
The Skyslide opened last month as part of a renovation of the 72-story U.S. Bank Tower. The slide spans 45 feet from the 70th floor to the 69th.
The suit claims the design doesn't allow rider to slow down enough before reaching the end and a stack of mats in the runout area created a gap that trapped riders' feet.
Responding to an Associated Press email seeking comment, a public relations representative said the company was informed about the lawsuit and it would be reviewed by a legal team.
The slide offers riders the thrill — or scare — of launching out the side of the skyscraper about 1,000 feet above the ground, contained in a square tube made of 1¼-inch-thick glass.
The slide ends on a new open-air observation deck one floor below.
The lawsuit (PDF) claims the building owner failed to warn riders that "the risk of serious injury was far great than that inherent in going down a slide."
"Defendants' conduct was especially egregious as they had knowledge that riders were suffering serious injury by reason of the dangerous and defective design, and negligent operation of SKYSLIDE, and they concealed this enhanced risk from their guests," the lawsuit claimed.
Admission to the observation deck is $25. The slide costs an additional $8.
Skyslide is part of a $50 million renovation that includes the deck, a bar and a 360-degree restaurant, 71Above, that opens Friday.
On a clear day, the tower provides panoramic views that extend across the metropolitan region to Santa Catalina Island more than 20 miles offshore and to the mountain peaks that form the backdrop of Los Angeles.
"The Skyslide boasts a safe, thrilling experience unlike any other in the world," Lucy Rumantir, head of U.S. operations for the building owner, said in a statement earlier this year.
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