Family outings are supposed to be fun and a chance to reconnect and bond with each other. However, for one family, a family outing to MGM National Harbor took a devastating turn when Zynae Green, a 7-year-old girl, was electroshocked and seriously injured. Now, her family wants justice and filed a lawsuit earlier this week in Prince George’s County, Maryland, five months after the incident occurred.According to the lawsuit, Green, who celebrated her birthday shortly before the incident, was visiting the resort with her family in late June. While walking around outside, she “touched an illuminated handrail near an outdoor fountain.” Upon touching the handrail, she was “shocked and went into cardiac arrest.” The suit alleges that she was “hit with 120 volts of electricity, which is more than 10 times the amount that was required to light the handrail.”

Warning sign; image courtesy of Peter-Lomas via Pixabay, www.pixabay.com

The 7-year-old girl wasn’t the only one who was affected by the shock, though. According to the suit, her “mother, Rydricka Rosier, and a security guard were also hit with a shock, and her “5-year-old brother and 16-year-old sister had to be hospitalized for several days." The suit states:“They were violently electrocuted and injured. This incident has had a devastating and life-altering impact on the plaintiffs and their entire family.”Zynae herself “suffered severe and permanent neurological injuries” that have left her totally and permanently disabled, according to the suit.After the incident, county safety inspectors “uncovered faulty wiring in a device that was intended to control the flow of electricity.” As a result, the suit argues that MGM should have been aware of the issue before the incident and injuries occurred. Additionally, the suit also notes that “security video shows other people appearing to be jolted with electricity when touching the handrail on numerous occasions in the days before the incident.”In response to the lawsuit, MGM spokeswoman Debra DeShong called the incident involving the Green family a “tragic accident.” She added:“We are all heartbroken that Zynae Green and her family continue to suffer. We are committed to continue working with the family’s representative to reach a resolution.”DeShong also commented on the report from the county safety inspectors, saying the blame on the “faulty wiring was very disturbing and disappointing…and showed that the high standards that MGM expects of its contractors were not upheld.” She added, “We do not compromise safety when constructing our facilities.”The lawsuit is seeking unspecified monetary damages and claims MGM was negligent.

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Family of girl who was shocked at MGM National Harbor files lawsuitFamily of critically injured child sues Md. casino over handrail