Reluctant to ride the mechanical bull at Dixie Dance Hall, Susana Garcia was reassured by a persuasive employee that the ride would be slow. But before anyone could shout "ride 'em cowboy," Garcia was bucked and thrown face first into a table.
Garcia maintains Dixie Dance Hall and Crockett Street Entertainment Inc. had a duty to warn her of the repercussions of riding a steel bull and operate the machine in a safe manner.
She filed suit against both business on May 13 in the Jefferson County District Court.
On May 26, 2006, Garcia and her friends had decided to get together at Dixie Dance Hall. As Garcia socialized with her friends, an establishment employee approached her and offered to let her ride the mechanical bull, according to the suit.
"On several occasions Garcia had rejected the offers from the operator employed by the Defendant companies to ride the mechanical bull but relented and agreed due to the employee's promise that the ride would be slow," the suit says.
"After being assured by the Defendants' representatives, Plaintiff agreed to the employee's request that she ride the bull and got on. Plaintiff had never ridden a mechanical bull prior to this time.
"As the employee started the mechanical bull, without warning, she was thrown off the bull and into a rail, table or some other stationary object."
In her suit, Garcia says as a result of the "severe collision" between her face and stationary object, she received serious injuries to her mouth and face. She immediately went to the emergency room and sought dental care after the incident.
Garcia is suing for past and future mental anguish, physical pain, lost wages, impairment and disfigurement.
She is represented by the Law Offices of David L. Thornton.
Judge Milton Shuffield, 136th Judicial District, has been assigned to the case.
Case No. D181-739