Photo: Paul Hennessy/getty
According to the complaint, the parents allege that their 3-year-old daughter was enrolled in the ship’s youth club on Jan. 9, 2020.
Several Disney crew members entered the room during the alleged assault, but “failed to recognize and/or appreciate the ongoing sexual assault” even though it happened “in plain view,” according to the lawsuit.
The parents' attorney, Michael Winkleman,toldThe Miami Heraldthat the alleged assault continued for 20 minutes while the toddler was “under the direct ‘supervision’ of Disney employees whose singular job is to oversee these children.”
Soon after, the child began showing signs of abuse, which is when authorities sought out security footage from the ship, Winkleman said.
“The victim’s parents filed this case in order to seek justice and accountability and to raise awareness about the hidden dangers of sexual assaults on cruise ships,” he added.
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In a statement to PEOPLE, a spokesperson for Disney said that the lawsuit is “wholly without merit.”
“The plaintiffs' first allegations were reported to the FBI, and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office investigated them and determined them to be unfounded,” the spokesperson said. “The plaintiffs have now come back with a different story, which is equally unfounded, that another young female child acted inappropriately with their child. We will vigorously defend this case in court.”
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
source: people.com
