“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, a Texas mother, telling ABC News about the moment her three-year-old son, Colton, suffered a broken femur at a trampoline park. Colton spent months in a body cast. Kati’s warning to other parents was shared a quarter of a million times on social media. She ended her story with five words that we hear from families in New Deal far too often: “We had no idea.”
If your child was injured at a trampoline park near New Deal, or if you are an adult dealing with a life-altering injury after a bad landing, you are likely hearing another set of words from the park’s insurance adjuster: “You signed a waiver. There is nothing you can do.”
We are here to tell you that the insurance adjuster is wrong.
At Attorney911, led by Ralph Manginello, we have spent more than 25 years making corporate defendants pay for the decisions they make at the expense of families. We have litigated against multinational giants like BP after the Texas City refinery explosion, and we have gone head-to-head with Walmart, Amazon, FedEx, and UPS. The parent conglomerates behind national trampoline park chains — Sky Zone, Inc., owned by Palladium Equity Partners, and Unleashed Brands, which owns Urban Air — do not bring anything to the table that we haven’t beaten before.
Our associate attorney, Lupe Peña, brings a unique advantage to our team: he used to defend insurance companies and recreational businesses against these exact claims. He knows the arguments they are preparing right now in their corporate offices in Bedford and Dallas. He knows which waiver clauses hold up in Texas courts and which ones are full of holes. He speaks Spanish natively, representing our New Deal clients directly without the need for interpreters or delays.
If you are reading this from a hospital bed at University Medical Center or Covenant Children’s in Lubbock, or if you’ve just returned home to New Deal with a child in a body cast, your world has changed in a single bounce. This guide is built to help you navigate the next 72 hours and the months of recovery ahead.
Part I: The Systemic Negligence Architecture
A trampoline injury in New Deal is never an accident. It is the predictable output of a business decision. The trampoline park industry in Texas operates in a regulatory vacuum. While the state regulates bungee trampolines and inflatable obstacle courses as “Class B” amusement rides under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 2151, the core trampoline decks themselves are statutorily excluded.
This means the Sky Zone, Urban Air, or Altitude park your family visited operates under a voluntary safety standard — ASTM F2970 — that the trampoline industry wrote about itself. When a park ignores these standards to save on labor costs, they are choosing margin over your child’s safety.
The Double-Bounce: Physics vs. Policy
The most common mechanism of injury we see in Lubbock County is the double-bounce. The physics are simple and devastating. When a 200-pound adult lands on a trampoline bed at the same instant a 60-pound child is pushing off it, the energy transfer multiplies the child’s launch force by up to 4x. The child isn’t jumping anymore; the child has become a projectile.
ASTM F2970 requires parks to enforce age and weight separation to prevent this energy transfer. But on a Saturday afternoon near New Deal, when the courts are packed with birthday parties, those ratios are the first thing to slip. When the park allows an adult and a small child on the same bed, they aren’t just being “careless.” They are violating the industry’s own safety floor.
The Foam Pit Illusion
Foam pits at parks like Altitude or Get Air look like the safest place in the facility. In reality, they are the site of the most catastrophic injuries. If the foam cubes are compressed, or if the pit hasn’t been “fluffed” and rotated according to spec, a jumper can strike the hard floor beneath.
The industry knows this. That is why major chains like Sky Zone have spent millions of dollars replacing foam pits with pressurized airbags since 2018. The international standard EN ISO 23659:2022, which is mandatory in Europe, has much stricter requirements for these landing zones than the voluntary U.S. standards. If the park in New Deal still uses a foam pit that bottomed out, they made a cost-saving decision that put your spine at risk.
The Evidence Clock is Running in New Deal
While you are focused on orthopedic surgeons and physical therapy, the park’s risk management team is focused on the evidence.
- Surveillance Video: Most park DVR systems in the Lubbock area are set to overwrite in as little as 7 to 30 days.
- Incident Reports: The report you might have signed on the night of the injury is part of a database where revisions are tracked by metadata. We have seen reports “sanitized” 48 hours after an incident.
- Waiver Kiosks: The version history of the waiver you signed can be purged on a 72-hour rolling cycle.
Our firm sends a formal spoliation letter within 24 hours of being retained. We demand the preservation of specific document types that other firms don’t even know to ask for: attendant shift logs, training certifications, daily pre-opening inspection logs, and the franchisor’s independent audit records.
Part II: Breaking the Texas Waiver
The first thing the park will do is show you the waiver you signed on the iPad at the front desk. They want you to believe that document ended your case before it started. In Texas, that is rarely true.
The Fair Notice Doctrine
Under the landmark Texas Supreme Court case Dresser Industries v. Page Petroleum, a release of future negligence must meet the “Fair Notice” doctrine. This requires two things:
- Express Negligence: The waiver must specifically state, in the word “negligence,” that it is releasing the park from its own future mistakes.
- Conspicuousness: The language must be bold, in a larger font, or otherwise stand out.
If the New Deal park gave you a waiver where the important part was buried in tiny print on a 20-screen click-through, they have failed the Dresser test.
Children Cannot Waive Their Rights
In the 14th Court of Appeals decision Munoz v. II Jaz Inc. (1993), Texas established a clear rule: a parent cannot sign away a minor child’s personal injury claim. While you might have waived your own rights as a parent, your child’s right to seek compensation for their medical bills, their pain, and their future remains intact.
We also apply the Delfingen US-Texas v. Valenzuela doctrine for our Spanish-speaking families in New Deal. If the waiver was only in English and you were pressured to sign it without an explanation in your native language, the contract formation itself was flawed. Lupe Peña uses this internal knowledge to dismantle waivers that other lawyers find intimidating.
Gross Negligence and Cosmic Jump
The most important precedent for any Texas trampoline case is the $11.485 million verdict against Cosmic Jump in Harris County. A 16-year-old fell through a torn trampoline mat onto concrete and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Even though a waiver was signed, the jury found the park was grossly negligent because they knew about the tear and did nothing.
Under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 41.001(11), gross negligence is defined as a conscious indifference to an extreme degree of risk. When a park in New Deal knows their equipment is failing or their staff is undertrained and they let your child jump anyway, the waiver is void as a matter of public policy.
Part III: The Hidden Medicine of Trampoline Injuries
A “broken leg” at a trampoline park is almost never just a broken leg. Because 75% of these injuries involve children, the medicine is specialized and the damage is often permanent.
Salter-Harris Growth Plate Fractures
Children’s bones grow from cartilaginous zones called physes, or growth plates. A Salter-Harris fracture at age eight can produce a limb-length discrepancy that doesn’t manifest until the child is fourteen. If the growth plate is destroyed, the bone may never grow straight again. We work with pediatric orthopedic surgeons to project these costs ten years into the future, ensuring your settlement covers the corrective surgeries your child will need at age 18.
SCIWORA: The Invisible Spinal Injury
Spinal Cord Injury Without Radiographic Abnormality (SCIWORA) is a pediatric phenomenon. A child lands head-first in a foam pit, feels neck pain, and has a “normal” CT scan at the ER. Because of the flexibility of the pediatric spine, the cord can be stretched and damaged without a bone breaking. If the park staff clears the child to “walk it off,” they are risking permanent paralysis.
Exertional Rhabdomyolysis
If your child has dark, cola-colored urine or rock-hard muscle pain 24 hours after an afternoon of jumping in the Texas heat, they may be suffering from rhabdomyolysis. This is a medical emergency where muscle tissue breaks down and poisons the kidneys.
We are uniquely qualified to handle these cases. We are currently litigating a $10 million lawsuit involving rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure. We know the myoglobin cascade, we know the “CK” lab numbers that prove the case, and we know which medical experts can stand up to the park’s defense team.
Part IV: The Insurance Shell Game
When you speak to an insurance adjuster, they might tell you the park only has a $1 million policy. This is the “Policy Limit Shell Game.”
The truth is that most major chains like Sky Zone or Urban Air operate with a 5-layer defendant stack:
- The Operator LLC (the local park in New Deal)
- The Franchisee Holding Company
- The Franchisor (e.g., Sky Zone Franchising LLC)
- The Parent Corporation (Sky Zone, Inc. / Unleashed Brands)
- The Private Equity Sponsor (Palladium / Seidler)
Each layer has its own insurance tower. The primary GL policy is just the floor. There are umbrella policies, excess layers, and “additional insured” provisions that can reach $25 million or more. We trace the corporate archeology of these chains to find the deep pockets that are required to pay for a lifetime of care.
Who is Really Watching Your Child?
The person supervising the court is likely a 17-year-old making minimum wage with less than four hours of training. Washington State’s Labor & Industries department recently fined a Sky Zone $68,000 for child labor violations and safety lapses. If a park won’t follow the labor laws for their own employees, they aren’t following the safety standards for your family.
We investigate the “Staff Training Gap” in every case. We demand the personnel file of the specific monitor on duty. Were they certified by the International Association of Trampoline Parks (IATP)? Did they know CPR? Were they even assigned to that court, or were they covering for a friend? These answers are the difference between a simple accident and a gross negligence case.
Part V: Life-Care Plans for New Deal Families
For catastrophic injuries involving traumatic brain injury (TBI) or spinal cord injury, a settlement must cover more than just the past medical bills. We build a Pediatric Life-Care Plan that itemizes every cost your child will face for the next 70 years:
- Future surgeries (hardware removal, growth plate correction)
- Therapies (PT, OT, speech-language for TBI)
- Durable Medical Equipment (wheelchair replacement every 5 years)
- Home and vehicle modifications
- Lost earning capacity (the difference in what your child would have earned as an adult)
By using forensic economists and pediatric specialists, we turn a “broken bone” case into a life-restoration case. As our client Chad Harris said, “You are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.” That is the level of care we bring to the parent standing at the bedside.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue if I signed the waiver at a New Deal area trampoline park?
Yes. In Texas, waivers do not cover gross negligence, and they generally do not bind the personal claims of minor children. If the park violated ASTM F2970 standards — like allowing an adult to double-bounce a child — the waiver is often unenforceable.
How long do I have to file a claim in Texas?
The statute of limitations for personal injury is generally two years. However, for a minor, the clock is tolled until their 18th birthday. While the legal deadline may be years away, the evidence deadline is days away. Surveillance video is often gone within three weeks.
What if my child was injured during a birthday party?
Birthday parties are high-risk environments. Often, the person who signed the waiver is the host parent, not you. If you never signed a waiver for your child, the park has no waiver defense against you. We pull the guest lists and check-in logs to prove it.
Does it cost anything to hire Attorney911?
No upfront costs. we work on a contingency fee basis — we only get paid if we win. We advance all the costs for biomechanical engineers, orthopedic consultants, and investigators. Your family pays nothing out of pocket.
What should I do with my child’s clothes after the accident?
Preserve them exactly as they are. If a harness failed or a net caught a drawstring, the clothing is evidence. Do not wash them. Put them in a sealed container and give them to your attorney.
The park manager said they will “take care of us.” Should I trust them?
No. The manager’s job is to protect the park’s margin. They might offer a refund or a free pass for next time. These are tactics to keep you from seeking legal advice while the surveillance video is being overwritten.
The Kill Shot: Why Attorney911?
What happened to your child wasn’t random. It was the output of a system designed by private equity groups to maximize traffic and minimize oversight. They trade on your family’s desire for fun, and they hide behind a piece of paper they know is legally suspect.
We were built for this fight. Ralph Manginello has 25 years of experience making the biggest companies in the world accountable. Lupe Peña knows the defense playbook because he used to help write it. We aren’t just a law firm; as client Donald Wilcox said, “One company said they would not accept my case. Then I got a call from Manginello… I got a call to come pick up this handsome check.”
Your child’s case is decided by what we preserve this week. The DVR overwrites. The attendant transfers. The foam pit refills.
Call 1-888-ATTY-911. Hablamos Español. Our spoliation letter goes out within 24 hours. The insurance companies have lawyers, the franchisors have lawyers, and the corporate parents have lawyers.
Now, you have us.
Key Legal Authorities for New Deal, Texas Cases
- TX-1: Dresser Industries, Inc. v. Page Petroleum, Inc. (Fair Notice / Conspicuousness)
- TX-4: Munoz v. II Jaz, Inc. (Parental waiver of minor’s claim is VOID)
- TX-21: Corbin v. Safeway Stores, Inc. (Texas Premises Liability 4-element test)
- TX-26: Texas Occupations Code § 2151.1015(b) (Class B Inflatable regulation)
- TX-30: Delfingen US-Texas, L.P. v. Valenzuela (Waiver formation for non-English speakers)
- TX-34: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 41.001(11) (Gross Negligence definition)
A Note on Backyard Trampolines in New Deal
While commercial parks are dangerous, backyard trampolines in the South Plains face unique environmental hazards. The high UV index in Lubbock County degrades polypropylene netting in as little as 24 months. High winds can displace frames, creating micro-fractures in welds.
If your child was injured on a neighbor’s Jumpking, Skywalker, or Springfree trampoline, the “Attractive Nuisance” doctrine applies. Under Texas law, a homeowner is responsible for an artificial condition on their property that is likely to attract children who cannot appreciate the danger.
We also investigate manufacturing defects. Between 2005 and 2026, the CPSC has recalled millions of trampolines from brands like SEGMART (strangulation hazard) and Jumpking (breaking welds). We cross-reference your neighbor’s trampoline with the federal recall database on day one.
Step-by-Step: The Case Build for a New Deal Injury
- 24-Hour Spoliation Letter: We demand the DVR and the original, un-revised incident report.
- 48-Hour PI Site Inspection: Our investigator documents current staffing and equipment states.
- Medical Chronology: We map the injury from the first “worst scream” through the final surgery.
- Corporate Archeology: We identify the PE sponsor and the franchisor’s audit record.
- Expert Retention: We hire a biomechanical engineer to model the 4x launch force of the double-bounce.
- Waiver Takedown: We file a motion for partial summary judgment to strike the waiver under Dresser or Munoz.
- The Demand: We send a policy-limits demand backed by a 70-year life-care plan.
Don’t let them push your family around with an iPad waiver. The law is on your side, and we are in your corner.
888-ATTY-911. No fee unless we win.
