Trial Starts in Suit Against Disney

SANTA ANA — Lawyers will give their opening remarks before jury members today in a trial to determine if the Walt Disney Co. was negligent when an ex-Mouseketeer was robbed in a Disneyland parking lot two years ago.

Attorneys selected the jury Monday afternoon from a panel of 50 prospective jurors.

The trial is expected to take 10 days, said a clerk in Orange County Superior Court Judge Richard W. Luesebrink’s courtroom.

The dispute between the entertainment conglomerate and Billie Jean Matay stems from a 1995 incident in which an armed man robbed Matay, her daughter and three grandchildren of $1,650 in cash and credit cards.

Her lawsuit also claims that Disneyland inflicted “emotional distress” on her grandchildren when they were allowed to see performers remove their character costumes in a backstage area, thereby “exposing the children to the reality that the Disney characters were, in fact, make-believe.”

In addition, the suit says the family was submitted to false imprisonment when Disneyland officials detained them after the robbery for hours of interrogation against their will.

Disney attorneys refused to discuss the case. Matay’s attorney, Robert O’Connor, could not be reached.

Court TV has been granted permission to broadcast the trial. Disney tried but failed to keep cameras out of the Santa Ana courtroom.

In June, the judge overruled Disney motions to deny television coverage, seal court records and close the courtroom to the press and public where necessary to protect the amusement park’s confidential security arrangements.

But Luesebrink has said he might reverse himself if testimony is deemed too sensitive and could provide a blueprint for criminals to prey on unsuspecting visitors.