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A California couple says their retirement plans have been delayed five years after losing a Disneyland lawsuit (DIS)This follows the banning of the park’s exclusive Club 33.
From 2012 to 2017, Scott and Diana Anderson paid annual dues to the club of $31,500—even though those fees were a drop in the bucket for Disney fanatics. The Andersons, both 60, estimate they spend about $125,000 a year visiting the Happiest Place on Earth. Los Angeles Times reported.
Club 33 is a unique dining venue complete with Disney movie props, original animation reels and Art Nouveau design features. The Andersons waited on the waiting list for more than a decade before being admitted to Club 33.
On September 3, 2017, the magic came to an abrupt halt when security allegedly noticed that Scott Anderson was showing signs of being drunk. The guard told jurors that Anderson’s “breath smelled of alcohol” in addition to slurring his speech and struggling to stand.
Diana Anderson has been permanently banned for allegedly using foul language at Club 33.
The Andersons asked Disney to reimburse them $10,500 for four months of 2017, but they were unable to use it. They also requested an additional $231,000, according to the Los Angeles Times. The couple lost the case but plan to appeal – even in the face of mounting legal bills.
“I would sell a kidney,” Diana Anderson told the media. “I don’t care.”
The Andersons’ attorney, Sean Macias, did not deny that Scott Anderson drank that night, but argued that most of his symptoms were actually triggered by a concurrent vestibular migraine. During the civil trial, Macias criticized the park for failing to conduct breathalyzer tests.
“They have not established that Mr. Anderson was intoxicated,” Macias told jurors. “He didn’t want to be known as an alcoholic.”
Disney’s attorney, Jonathan E. Phillips, told jurors that the Andersons simply wanted to avoid the consequences of Scott ignoring the club’s rules against public intoxication.
“[Scott] His wife’s 40-year dream of making it to the 33 club took its toll.
The legal battle cost more than just Diana’s dream—Scott told the Los Angeles Times that the trial cost the couple $400,000.
“My wife and I are determined that this is absolutely wrong and we will fight to the end,” he told the media. “There is no way we are going to let this go.”
This article was originally published on our sister site Quartz on Monday, September 9.
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