Murphy v. Steeplechase Amusement Co.
Court of Appeals of New York
166 N.E. 173 (N.Y. 1929)
Murphy (plaintiff) rode 'The Flopper,' a padded, grooved moving belt at Steeplechase Amusement Co.'s (defendant) Coney Island park designed to jerk riders backward or sideways, after watching other participants ride it beforehand; the belt suddenly jerked, and while most riders in his group were uninjured, Murphy suffered a fractured kneecap. He sued, alleging the ride was dangerously violent, inadequately equipped to prevent injury, run at an unsafe speed, and lacked a proper guardrail; the trial and appellate courts both ruled for Murphy, and Steeplechase appealed.
Whether one who voluntarily participates in a sport or amusement-park activity with inherent, known dangers may bring a negligence action when those dangers actually occur.