Please note that all submissions to the site are subject to the wiki's licence, CC 4.0 BY-SA, as found here
Disney
The Walt Disney Company, founded in 1923 by Walt Disney and Roy O. Disney, is one of the most recognizable entertainment companies globally. Known for its movies, theme parks, and television networks, Disney has become a dominant player in the entertainment industry. In 2019, Disney launched the Disney+ streaming service, which makes most of their content library available to viewers as a monthly subscription.
The EPCOT Death Lawsuit and Disney's Arbitration Clause
In a wrongful death lawsuit, Jeffrey Piccolo sued Walt Disney Parks and Resorts after his wife died from a severe allergic reaction at a restaurant in Disney's EPCOT theme park. The lawsuit claims Disney’s negligence in managing food allergens contributed to her death.[1] However, Disney attempted to have the case dismissed and sent to arbitration, citing the Disney+ user agreement signed by Piccolo in 2019 when he subscribed for a one-month free trial. This agreement includes a clause requiring arbitration for disputes with the company.
Disney argued that, because Piccolo had subscribed to Disney+ (even for a free trial), he was bound by the arbitration clause for any legal claims against the company, regardless of whether the issue was related to Disney+. This sparked significant backlash, particularly as over 150 million Disney+ subscribers could similarly be barred from suing Disney over serious issues like wrongful death due to such arbitration clauses. In response to the criticism, Disney ultimately withdrew its motion and allowed the case to continue in court.[2]
