NEW TONIGHT. PENNSYLVANIA. KNOEBELS AMUSEMENT PARK IS UNDER SOME LEGAL SCRUTINY FROM A WOMAN WHO SAYS SHE BROKE HER LEG WHILE GETTING OFF ONE OF ITS RIDES. A FEDERAL LAWSUIT JUST FILED BY ELIZABETH BURRIS OF CALIFORNIA CLAIMS THAT IN JULY OF 2024, HER FOOT GOT CAUGHT ON ONE OF THE CARTS OF THE GIANT WHEEL FERRIS WHEEL, CAUSING HER TO FALL AND BREAK HER LEG. SHE SAYS THAT WHILE HOLDING ON HER CHILD, SHE HAD TO STEP UP OVER THE POD’S LIP AND ACROSS A GAP ONTO AN ANGLED UNLOADING PLATFORM, WHERE HER FOOT BECAME TWISTED. SHE’S ALLEGING NEGLIGENT DESIGN AS WELL AS WHAT SHE CALLS INADEQUATE STAFFING AND SUPERVISION. SHE’S SEEKING $75,000 IN DAMAGES. HER HUSBAND IS ALSO LOOKING FOR MONEY FROM LOSS OF CONSORTIUM IN A CLAIM BY A SPOUSE FOR HARM TO THE MARRIAGE CAUSED BY THE OTHER SPOUSE’S INJURY. SHANE BURRIS ALLEGES THAT THE COMPLAINT THOSE INJURIES HARMED THEIR RELATIONSHIP. AN IMPORTANT POINT HERE IT IS A DERIVATIVE, MEANING IF HIS WIFE’S COMPLAINT FAILS, HIS DOES TOO. SO HE’S ALS
California woman sues Pennsylvania amusement park over Ferris wheel injury
Updated: 6:04 PM EDT Jul 10, 2026
A California woman is suing Knoebels Amusement Park in Pennsylvania, claiming she broke her leg while exiting the “Giant Wheel” Ferris Wheel in July 2024. Elizabeth Burruss alleges her foot got caught on one of the ride’s carts, causing her to fall and break her leg. She said she was holding her child at the time and had to step over the pod’s lip and across a gap onto an angled unloading platform, where her foot became twisted. She is accusing the park of negligent design, citing the angled platform, the height and gap, and what she described as inadequate staffing and supervision. Burruss is seeking $75,000 in damages. Husband’s claim and damagesHer husband, Shane Burruss, has also filed a claim for loss of consortium, which refers to harm to the marriage caused by the spouse’s injury. “Those injuries harmed their relationship,” the complaint said. Shane Burruss is seeking $75,000 in damages, the same amount as his wife. His claim is derivative, meaning it depends on the success of the underlying injury claim. If Elizabeth Burruss’s claim fails, his loss of consortium claim will also fail. Knoebels Amusement Park has not yet responded to requests for comment.
A California woman is suing Knoebels Amusement Park in Pennsylvania, claiming she broke her leg while exiting the “Giant Wheel” Ferris Wheel in July 2024.
Elizabeth Burruss alleges her foot got caught on one of the ride’s carts, causing her to fall and break her leg. She said she was holding her child at the time and had to step over the pod’s lip and across a gap onto an angled unloading platform, where her foot became twisted.
She is accusing the park of negligent design, citing the angled platform, the height and gap, and what she described as inadequate staffing and supervision. Burruss is seeking $75,000 in damages.
Husband’s claim and damages
Her husband, Shane Burruss, has also filed a claim for loss of consortium, which refers to harm to the marriage caused by the spouse’s injury.
“Those injuries harmed their relationship,” the complaint said.
Shane Burruss is seeking $75,000 in damages, the same amount as his wife. His claim is derivative, meaning it depends on the success of the underlying injury claim. If Elizabeth Burruss’s claim fails, his loss of consortium claim will also fail.
Knoebels Amusement Park has not yet responded to requests for comment.