Flying Knife Slashed NJ Woman In Face While At American Dream Mall: Lawsuit

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A woman visiting the Nickelodeon theme park with her kids last July was struck out of nowhere by a Swiss knife, she says in a lawsuit filed last week — and while her face was bleeding, a worker began laughing, she claims.

The ordeal at the park — located in the American Dream complex in East Rutherford — resulted in a $13,000 hospital bill, with more treatments to come, the woman said.

The lawsuit was filed in Bergen County Superior Court on March 24.

In the suit, Xianghua Nan, identified as a New Jersey resident, says she was at Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park on July 29 with her children.

Nan, who holds an Annual Thrill season pass, boarded a family amusement ride known as the “Loud House."

The ride is designed to look like a green and white van called Vanzilla, according to social media posts.

"While the ride was in operation, a Swiss knife became airborne and struck Plaintiff directly in the face," the suit says.

Nan was bleeding, in pain, and injured. She asked for the ride to be stopped, and an employee found the knife on the floor of the ride, the suit says.

While she bled and waited for an ambulance to arrive, according to the suit, "One of defendants’ employees was observed laughing. Said conduct reflects inadequate training and supervision, and demonstrates a disregard for patron safety."

She was taken by ambulance to Hudson Regional Hospital in Secaucus.

$13K Hospital Bill

After she was treated and imaging was done, she was diagnosed with cervical spine trauma, disc herniation, and "straightening of cervical lordosis [curved neck vertebrae] consistent with acute injury," the suit says.

The suit notes that she received bills of $13,602 for the treatment.

While the suit doesn't say where the knife came from, it notes that neither Nan nor other riders were advised to remove items from their pockets that could become airborne.

"The presence of a dangerous object such as a Swiss knife on a moving amusement ride created a foreseeable risk of serious injury," the suit states.

Damages Requested

The suit says the employees were negligent for "failing to enforce safety protocols, failing to inspect and screen riders, allowing dangerous objects onto the ride, failing to supervise and monitor patrons, and otherwise failing to prevent foreseeable hazards."

It also says the conditions of the theme park were unsafe, and the employees were not adequately trained.

Nan is asking for compensatory damages, legal costs, and interest from the plaintiffs: American Dream, Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park, and various John Does.

Gregg Schwartz, a spokesperson for American Dream, said the company could not comment on legal matters.

Patch reached out to attorney Howard Myerowtiz of Fort Lee, who is representing Nan, for comment, and will update this story if more details are received.

One Of Several

The suit is among several related to rides and amusements that have been filed against the complex over the last three years.

Last March, a family sued the complex, saying their son sustained permanent injuries on a waterslide.

At least three people have filed suits claiming they were struck by the plush ride-on animals at the mall, NJ.com reported last year.

The American Dream complex opened in late 2019, with restaurants, stores, and more than two dozen theme parks and attractions. Read more about it here.