A Broward County man has filed a lawsuit after he says an alligator bit him in the face during an animal encounter at Airboat Rides at Midway in Central Florida.
Read more The Savings Game: HSAs are a very effective retirement planning tool
According to a complaint filed May 20 in Orange County Circuit Court, Edil Kasenov is suing DCML Enterprises, LLC, which does business as Airboat Rides @ Midway. The lawsuit says the business owned, operated, maintained or controlled the property at 28501 E. Colonial Drive in Christmas, where it offered a “FREE Alligator Encounter” among other experiences.
The complaint says Kasenov was a business invitee at the property on or about June 9, 2025, when he attended the alligator encounter. During the encounter, the lawsuit alleges, an employee handed Kasenov an alligator, which then bit him in the face.
Kasenov’s attorneys claim the alligator “constituted a dangerous and hazardous condition” and allege the business failed to properly train or supervise employees in a safe and reasonable manner. The complaint also alleges the company failed to warn Kasenov about the dangerous condition.
The lawsuit says the company owed Kasenov a duty to use ordinary and reasonable care in the proper handling of its animals to keep business invitees safe, specifically during encounters involving animals “known for their dangerous propensities and vicious nature.”
According to the complaint, there were no warnings, signs or other devices to warn visitors about the alleged vicious nature of the alligator. The lawsuit also claims there were no measures used to restrain the alligator or otherwise protect Kasenov.
Read more Orlando Sentinel 150: Join us for a new beer and to talk about the weather
Small alligator bites man returning turtle to Pompano Beach lake
The negligence claim accuses the company of creating a dangerous condition on the premises, failing to take adequate safety measures and precautions, failing to warn Kasenov, failing to keep and control the alligator, and representing to guests that the premises were safe and suitable when they were not.
Kasenov’s attorneys allege the dangerous condition was created by or known to the company and existed long enough that the company should have been aware of it.
The lawsuit says Kasenov suffered serious bodily injuries, including pain and suffering, disability, physical impairment, disfigurement, inconvenience, mental anguish, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, lost wages, medical expenses, loss of the ability to perform household services and/or aggravation of a previously existing condition. The complaint says the losses are either permanent or continuing and that Kasenov will suffer them in the future.
Kasenov is seeking damages in excess of $50,000, plus taxable costs and any other relief the court deems proper. He is also demanding a jury trial.
WPEC-CBS12 is a news partner of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.