Anapol Weiss has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Laura Transue, a mother of two who was seriously injured while she and her family were visiting the Philadelphia Zoo on a beautiful Saturday in September 2024. Approximately 1.2 million people visit the Philadelphia Zoo each year, with weekends being the busiest when families like the Transues come to enjoy the day.
Her family’s visit was dramatically changed when Transue’s arm was sliced open as she was trying to walk through a doorway in the zoo’s McNeil Avian Center.
Severe Injuries Sustained at the Philadelphia Zoo
When Transue approached the entranceway, the right-hand door was partially open and seemed to be jammed against the floor and not moving. As the right-hand door appeared unable to be opened, Transue attempted to walk through the left-hand door. When she opened the left-hand door, the right-hand door fell, slicing her left arm from her wrist to her elbow all the way down to the bone, before the door shattered on the ground.
The door severed nerves, tendons, and an artery in her arm. Two medical professionals who also happened to be visiting the zoo that day helped stabilize her injuries until an ambulance arrived to take her to the hospital.
Transue underwent emergency surgery and extensive physical therapy, but, as of March 2025, she has not regained all mobility and feeling in her left hand and fingers and is unsure of whether she will regain the same in the future.
About the Lawsuit
The suit names the Philadelphia Zoo, the Zoological Society, the City of Philadelphia, and Synergy Glass and Door Service as defendants. It alleges that the defendants were negligent in maintaining the property and that this negligence caused Transue’s injuries.
The suit also claims that the defendants knew or should have known about the dangerous condition of the property and failed to take steps to protect patrons like Transue.
Damages are sought for her injuries, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The case is pending in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County.
