“His feet hit the mat, and almost instantly his knees buckled down, and he just let out the worst scream that you could ever have heard from a child.” That is Kaitlin “Kati” Hill, describing to ABC News the moment her three-year-old son, Colton, suffered a broken femur at a trampoline park. Like so many families in Willis and throughout Montgomery County, Kati and her husband had no idea. They had signed the waiver at the kiosk, believing that “Toddler Time” meant the facility had been engineered for the safety of a small child. They were wrong.
What happened to Colton is part of a devastating national pattern. Every year, over 300,000 trampoline-related emergency room visits occur in the United States, and the vast majority involve children. In Willis, where families frequently travel south on I-45 to reach major trampoline parks in The Woodlands, Shenandoah, and Spring, the risk is a weekend reality. Whether your child was injured at a national chain like Urban Air, Sky Zone, or Altitude, or sustained a life-altering injury on a backyard Jumpking or Skywalker trampoline, we understand the terror of the moment the jumping stopped.
We are Attorney911, The Manginello Law Firm. Led by Ralph Manginello, who brings over 25 years of courtroom experience and federal court admission to every case, we represent families whose lives have been upended by these preventable “business decisions” that the industry calls accidents. We don’t see a “freak occurrence” when a child leaves a park in Willis on a stretcher; we see the end result of a system that prioritizes throughput and margin over the biological limits of a child’s skeleton.
Our firm is uniquely positioned to handle these complex cases. Our team includes Lupe Peña, a former insurance defense attorney who used to sit on the other side of the table, defending the very recreational businesses and insurers we now fight. He knows exactly how those kiosk waivers were drafted and which legal holes make them unenforceable in a Texas courtroom. We currently litigate a $10 million lawsuit against a major university involving rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure—the exact same muscle and organ breakdown we see in crushed-limb and extended-exertion trampoline injuries.
If you are reading this from a hospital bed at Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands or Memorial Hermann The Woodlands, or if you have just returned to Willis with a child in a body cast, you need to know that the paper you signed at the front desk is not an absolute shield. In Harris County, a jury awarded $11.485 million against the operator of Cosmic Jump after a teenager fell through a torn trampoline slide onto a concrete floor. The waiver was signed. The jury found gross negligence anyway. We believe your family deserves that same level of relentless accountability.
What Willis Families Need to Know About the Trampoline Industry
The commercial trampoline park industry has experienced explosive growth since 2010. Today, major centers serve as the primary destination for birthday parties and weekend recreation for residents of Willis. However, this growth has happened in a near-total regulatory vacuum. There is no federal agency that inspects these facilities. In Texas, the state does not regulate trampoline decks at all. While the Texas Department of Insurance regulates “Class B” inflatable rides—like bungee trampolines or the Sky Rider indoor coasters found in some parks—the main trampoline courts themselves are entirely unregulated by the state of Texas.
This means families in Willis are left to rely on ASTM F2970, a voluntary safety standard written by the trampoline industry itself. While these standards are supposed to dictate attendant-to-jumper ratios, foam pit depths, and age-separated jumping zones, they are routinely violated during peak Saturday afternoon rushes. When a park in Conroe or Spring decides to operate at a 1:60 monitor ratio instead of the industry-recommended floor, they are effectively gambling with your child’s safety to protect their bottom line.
Beyond the commercial parks, the backyard trampolines found throughout Willis neighborhoods carry their own set of risks. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has formally advised against home trampoline use since 1999. In the heat and humidity of Willis, the polypropylene netting of a backyard trampoline can suffer from significant UV degradation in just a single season. A net that looks intact may have lost over half of its tensile strength, failing the moment a child is launched against it.
Whether the injury happened at a park or in a backyard, the physics of the “double-bounce” remain the most common mechanism of catastrophe. When a 200-pound adult lands on a trampoline mat at the same instant a 60-pound child from Willis is pushing off, the energy transfer can multiply the child’s launch force by 4x. The child isn’t jumping anymore; they are being catapulted.
At Attorney911, we don’t accept the industry’s claim that these injuries are “inherent risks.” A 14-year-old girl falling 30 feet at an Urban Air in Sugar Land because an attendant failed to attach a harness is not an inherent risk. A child at a park in Willis suffering from rhabdomyolysis because they were allowed to jump for two hours in 85-degree heat without mandatory hydration is not an inherent risk. These are the results of systemic failures in training, supervision, and maintenance.
Call us today at 1-888-ATTY-911. We represent families in Willis and throughout the country on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win. We advance every cost necessary to build a winning case—from biomechanical engineers who reconstruct the double-bounce to pediatric orthopedic surgeons who can explain the lifetime implications of a growth plate injury. Your child’s recovery fund stays intact while we fight the corporate parents and private equity sponsors behind these parks.
The Physics of Injury: Why Trampolines Are Dangerous for Children
To understand why so many children from Willis end up in trauma bays after a trip to a jump park, you have to understand the physics of energy transfer. A trampoline is a machine designed to store and release elastic potential energy. In a commercial environment where multiple interconnected beds allow for high-velocity travel, the forces involved are far greater than most parents realize.
The most dangerous mechanism is the double-bounce. This occurs when two people on the same trampoline bed jump out of phase. As the heavier jumper (often an adult or older child) lands, the trampoline mat stretches to its maximum depth, storing massive potential energy. If the smaller child is in the “push-off” phase at that exact millisecond, that stored energy is transferred directly into their legs. This energy transfer can result in the child being launched much higher than they could ever jump on their own, often at angles they cannot control.
The biological cost of this physics is often a “trampoline fracture”—a specific type of fracture of the proximal tibial metaphysis, usually seen in children between ages two and five. Because a child’s bones are not yet fully ossified, they are more pliable but also more vulnerable to compression. When a child from Willis experiences a high-velocity landing after a double-bounce, their bones may buckle or shatter in ways that an adult’s would not.
Salter-Harris Growth Plate Injuries
For the parents in Willis, the most concerning orthopedic diagnosis is a Salter-Harris fracture. Growth plates, or physes, are areas of developing cartilage tissue near the ends of long bones. They are the weakest part of a child’s skeleton. A trampoline injury that disrupts the growth plate can have consequences that last a decade.
If a growth plate is destroyed at age nine, that bone may stop growing entirely or grow at an angle, leading to permanent limb-length discrepancies or deformities. These injuries often require annual orthopedic monitoring until the child reaches skeletal maturity. In some cases, multiple corrective surgeries are required years after the initial incident. When we value a case for a family in Willis, we don’t just look at the ER bill from today; we look at the life-care plan for the next ten years.
SCIWORA: The Silent Threat
Cervical spine injuries are the most catastrophic category of trampoline trauma. Head-first entries into foam pits or failed flip attempts on open courts can lead to paralysis or death. In children, we often see a phenomenon known as SCIWORA—Spinal Cord Injury Without Radiographic Abnormality.
Because the pediatric spine is more flexible than an adult’s, the spinal cord can be severely stretched or compressed even if the vertebrae do not break. A child may land on their head at a park near Willis, feel “sore,” and have a normal-looking CT scan in the ER, only to experience progressive neurological decline hours later. Many park attendants and even some emergency room staff are not trained to recognize the subtle signs of SCIWORA, leading to delays in critical treatment.
The industry knows these risks. This is precisely why the international standard, EN ISO 23659:2022, is far more stringent than the voluntary American standard. In Europe, trampoline parks are subject to mandatory safety requirements that many Texas parks simply do not meet. At Attorney911, we use these international benchmarks to prove that the “safety floor” your child was jumping on in Willis was built too low.
Commercial Trampoline Park Liable Parties
When we file a lawsuit for a family in Willis, we don’t just sue the local venue. Trampoline parks are intentionally built in layered corporate structures designed to shield the real money from accountability. To secure a full recovery for a catastrophic injury, we must perform “corporate archeology” to reach the deep pockets upstream.
A typical defendant stack includes:
- The Operator LLC: This is the immediate business running the park in Conroe or Spring. They are the entity on the lease and the employer of the attendants. They are often undercapitalized and have the smallest insurance policy.
- The Franchisee: Many parks are owned by multi-unit franchise groups. These groups often have their own umbrellas of insurance that we can access.
- The Franchisor: National brands like Sky Zone Franchising LLC or Urban Air Franchise Holdings license their name and mandate operational standards. If the franchisor retained control over the training or safety protocols that failed your child, they are on the hook.
- The Corporate Parent: Sky Zone, Inc. (formerly known as CircusTrix) and Unleashed Brands (the parent of Urban Air) are multi-million dollar conglomerates. Since January 1, 2023, Sky Zone, DEFY, and Rockin’ Jump have all been sister brands under the Palladium Equity Partners banner.
- The Private Equity Sponsor: Firms like Palladium Equity or Seidler Equity Partners often approve the cost-cutting measures—like reducing attendant ratios or deferring foam pit replacement—that lead to injuries. We aren’t afraid to take on these Fortune 500-scale entities.
We have a proven track record against massive corporate defendants. Having litigated against BP after the Texas City refinery explosion, Ralph Manginello and the team at Attorney911 are seasoned in the tactics these large companies use to avoid paying. Their fleets of corporate lawyers do not intimidate us. We know how to pierce their liability shields and hold the decision-makers accountable.
The Truth About the Waiver You Signed
The most common question we hear from parents in Willis is, “I signed the waiver, so I can’t sue, right?” The answer, in the majority of cases, is that you still can.
The “Participation Agreement” you signed on an iPad at the front desk was drafted by corporate lawyers to make you feel like you have no rights. But under Texas law, there are several ways to defeat these documents.
The Gross Negligence Carve-Out
Waivers in Texas generally only protect a park from ordinary negligence. They almost never bar claims for gross negligence. If we can prove that the park had a subjective awareness of an extreme risk and acted with conscious indifference—such as knowing a trampoline was torn and leaving it in service, or failing to staff a foam pit despite prior injuries—the waiver becomes a non-factor. This is how the $11.485 million Cosmic Jump verdict was achieved in Harris County. The jury found the park grossly negligent, and the waiver could not save them.
Parental Indemnity and Minor Rights
In the landmark case Munoz v. II Jaz Inc., Texas courts established that a parent cannot pre-emptively waive a minor child’s own personal cause of action. While your signature might bar your own claims for medical bills, it typically cannot extinguish your child’s right to seek compensation for their own pain, suffering, and permanent impairment.
The Dresser Fair Notice Doctrine
Texas law requires that any waiver of future negligence be “conspicuous” and satisfy the “express negligence doctrine” under the case of Dresser Industries v. Page Petroleum. This means the waiver must specifically use the word “negligence” and be formatted in a way that would attract the attention of a reasonable person—using bold text, large fonts, or contrasting colors. Many of the kiosk waivers used by parks serving Willis fail this test, as the release is often buried in tiny print or hidden within a 20-screen click-through process.
Bilingual Formation Issues
Many families in Willis are primarily Spanish-speaking. Under the Delfingen doctrine, if a park presents an English-only waiver to a patron who cannot read the language and provides no translation or adequate time to review it, the waiver may be voided on formation grounds. Lupe Peña, our native Spanish-speaking attorney, is particularly skilled at identifying these gaps. Hablamos Español. Llame al 1-888-ATTY-911.
Evidence Preservation: The 7-Day Window
If your child was hurt at a trampoline park near Willis, the clock is ticking on more than just the statute of limitations. The most critical evidence in your case is currently at risk of being destroyed.
Trampoline park surveillance DVRs are often set to overwrite every 7 to 30 days. By the time you receive the first bill from the specialist, the footage of the incident could be gone forever. Furthermore, waiver kiosk databases and incident reports are often updated or “revised” on park systems shortly after an injury occurs.
We send spoliation letters by certified mail within 24 hours of being retained. We demand the preservation of:
- Multi-angle surveillance footage (before and after the incident).
- The original incident report (with metadata to show any subsequent edits).
- The daily inspection logs identifying equipment defects.
- The time-clock records for the attendants on duty.
- The specific waiver version you signed, including the audit trail.
We have a system for winning these cases, and it starts with freezing the evidence. Once the park is on formal notice of a claim, any destruction of video or alteration of logs can lead to an “adverse inference” instruction at trial—meaning the jury is told to assume the missing evidence would have hurt the park’s case. One Georgia jury awarded $3.5 million after the defense surveillance video conveniently “glitched” on four different cameras at the exact moment of a man’s leg injury. We know how to leverage these “glitches” to build a crushing case.
Fatalities and Serious Injuries: A Montgomery County Reality
While we always hope for a full recovery, we represent those facing the ultimate tragedy as well. Trampoline-related fatalities are rare but documented, and they follow a predictable set of failures. In Arizona, the death of Ty Thomasson led to the passage of “Ty’s Law,” the first state regulation for indoor jump parks. Ty died because a foam pit was only 2’8″ deep instead of the required six feet. In Gastonia, North Carolina, 12-year-old Matthew Lu died after a climbing wall harness failed and he fell 20 feet onto unpadded concrete. The park publicly admitted “human error” and removed the attraction entirely.
The risk isn’t limited to the park. Backyard trampolines in Willis can be a death trap for neighborhood children under the “attractive nuisance” doctrine. If you have a trampoline and a neighboring child wanders onto your property and is hurt, you may be held liable even if they were technically trespassing. Texas law holds that property owners have a duty to secure hazardous conditions that are likely to attract children.
Why Choose Attorney911 for Your Willis Case?
Families in Willis have many choices when it comes to personal injury lawyers, but very few firms have built a dedicated practice around the specific medicine and law of trampoline injuries.
Most firms handle a trampoline case the way they’d handle a simple slip-and-fall. They don’t know that ASTM F2970 Section 10 requires a specific attendant ratio. They don’t know how to depose a franchisor’s corporate representative about their cost-cutting private-equity mandates. We do.
When you hire us, you are hiring a team that:
- Knows the Insurance Playbook: With an attorney who used to defend these cases, we know exactly what the insurer’s next move is. We know which doctors they use for “Independent Medical Exams” and how to neutralize their testimony.
- Advanced Investigative Depth: We don’t just “gather evidence.” We employ digital forensic examiners to pull metadata from park computer systems and biomechanical engineers to prove how the park’s failure caused the bone to break.
- Contingency Fee Commitment: You pay us nothing unless we recover money for you. We advance all the multi-thousand-dollar costs of expert witnesses and litigation. We take the risk so your family can focus on the recovery.
- Local Knowledge, National Power: Our Houston and Austin offices are the launch point. We know the courts serving Willis, we know the Montgomery County jury pools, and we have global authority in this niche area of law.
Frequently Asked Questions in Willis, Texas
Can I sue if my child was hurt at a friend’s house in Willis?
Yes. These cases generally fall under your neighbor’s homeowners’ insurance policy. While many policies in Willis have trampoline exclusions, many do not, and most “umbrella” policies will cover the claim even if the primary policy does not. We help you navigate these sensitive neighbor-to-neighbor situations fairly.
How much is my child’s case worth?
The value of a case depends entirely on the severity of the injury, the evidence of negligence, and the available insurance layers. Catastrophic spinal cord cases can reach $10 million or more, while serious fracture cases often settle in the $500,000 to $2 million range. We build the most robust damages case possible to ensure your child’s future is secure.
How long do I have to file a claim in Willis?
In Texas, the statute of limitations is generally two years. However, for a minor child, the clock is “tolled” until their 18th birthday, meaning they have until age 20 to file. But as we’ve said, the evidence like surveillance video will be gone in 30 days. You must act now to preserve the case.
What if the park says it was my child’s fault?
Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule. As long as the park is found to be 50% or more at fault, you can recover. Furthermore, children under the age of seven are often legally presumed incapable of negligence. We don’t let the park blame a child for a system that failed them.
What is rhabdomyolysis and how do I know if my kid has it?
Exertional rhabdomyolysis is a life-threatening condition where muscle tissue breaks down. Watch for “cola-colored” dark urine, extreme muscle pain, and vomiting 24 to 48 hours after jumping. This is a medical emergency. If these symptoms appear, get to the ER immediately and then call us at 1-888-ATTY-911. We have deep experience in rhabdo litigation.
Take Action Today for Your Child’s Future
One bounce. One bad landing. A lifetime of consequences. If your child’s world changed on a trampoline in Willis, don’t let a “kiosk waiver” be the final word on their future.
The park has a risk management team. Their insurer has a panel of law firms. Their corporate parent has a millions-of-dollars defense budget. You need a team that fights back harder. You need a lawyer who has stood in the trauma bay and knows the difference between a “broken leg” and a lifelong growth-arrest injury.
What happened to your child wasn’t an accident. It was the predictable output of a system that put margin ahead of their life. We will name the decision-makers. We will find every insurance layer. We will win the justice your child deserves.
Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now. Our consultants are standing by 24/7. Hablamos Español. No fee unless we win. The spoliation letter goes out within 24 hours of your call. The case starts today.
Willis-Area Families: Do Not Wait
Every day you wait is a day a witness moves, a DVR overwrites, and an insurance adjuster builds a defense without you knowing. Protect your child’s rights by securing the counsel they deserve. Whether you are in Willis, Conroe, The Woodlands, or anywhere in Texas, Attorney911 is ready to stand by your side.
The Standard of Care Matters
We don’t just read the industry standards; we’ve memorized them. When we depose the operations manager of the park where your child was hurt, we will know ASTM F2970 better than they do. We will prove that they knew the risk and chose to ignore it.
Your child’s life changed in a single jump. Our job is to make sure the park that caused it is held to the standard the law—and your family—demands. Call us today.
The Manginello Law Firm — Attorney911
Houston | Austin | Beaumont | Serving Willis, TX
1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
www.attorney911.com
No Fee Unless We Win. Hablamos Español.
