Florida woman sues Mexican restaurant after falling off donkey statue

Kimberly Bonn seeks more than $15,000 in damages from El Jalisco in Tallahassee

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Florida woman is suing a popular Mexican restaurant after she claims that she was injured after falling off a donkey statue.

Kimberly Bonn is seeking damages in excess of $15,000 related to an Aug. 31, 2015, incident at El Jalisco in Tallahassee.

The lawsuit, filed Feb. 3 in Leon County, claims that Bonn was climbing on the life-sized donkey statue to have her picture taken, which the restaurant "permitted and encouraged," when she slipped off the back, fell on the floor and suffered "significant injuries, including a fractured spine."

According to the lawsuit, El Jalisco was negligent in creating the hazard without adequate safety features, determining whether the statue was slippery or failing to warn Bonn about the dangers involved in climbing on the statue.

File: Kimberly Bonn vs. El Jalisco lawsuit

The lawsuit, which seeks a jury trial, claims that Bonn suffered "bodily injury resulting in pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, expense of hospitalization, medical and nursing care and treatment, loss of earning, loss of the ability to earn money and aggravation of previously existing condition."

Bonn is represented by Morgan & Morgan attorney James G. Biggart. A social media campaign called #ForTheDonkey pokes fun at the statewide law firm's slogan, "For the People."

"Just because you are an a-s doesn't mean you should be treated like one," a post on a "For the Donkey" Facebook page said. "Join us in standing up for this poor donkey from El Jalisco restaurant here in Tallahassee as he prepares for the fight of his life against a powerful legal entity who is 'for the people.'"


About the Author:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.