A new lawsuit claims that a guest’s visit to Universal Orlando Resort took a terrifying turn after she approached a security officer for help. What should have been a simple, routine conversation reportedly became a medical emergency when the officer’s guard dog allegedly attacked her without warning.
According to the complaint, Jennifer L. Rhodes reached out to Universal’s guest services team before visiting the resort. She wanted to make sure her autistic daughter had the support she needed while entering the park, and she says she was told to speak directly with a security guard upon arrival. Rhodes says she followed those instructions exactly.
When she and her family arrived on August 31, 2024, she located a security guard on patrol who had a dog with him. The lawsuit states that there were no signs cautioning guests about the animal or indicating that the dog could behave aggressively. Rhodes claims she politely asked the guard if he worked for Universal, and after he said yes, she let him know she had an autistic child.
That’s when things allegedly went wrong. The lawsuit says the dog suddenly leapt toward Rhodes and bit her multiple times, injuring her arm, wrist, and abdomen. She describes the attack as sudden, violent, and entirely unexpected. Rhodes is now seeking $50,000 in damages for the injuries she says were both serious and permanent.
This new lawsuit comes at a time when Universal Orlando is already dealing with several other guest-related legal challenges. One of the most significant involves Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, who lost consciousness after riding Stardust Racers at Epic Universe on September 17 and later died from blunt-force injuries. His family is suing the resort, arguing that the attraction’s posted medical warnings were too vague for someone with his lifelong spinal disorder to understand the risks.
Another lawsuit—now settled—was filed months earlier by Sandi Streets, a guest who said her head slammed against a ride’s headrest due to a lack of proper restraint.
With multiple legal cases stacking up, Universal Orlando is facing increasing pressure to show that its safety procedures, communication policies, and staff training remain consistent across all areas of the resort. For Rhodes, the lawsuit centers on a moment that should’ve been straightforward: a mother following instructions to get help for her daughter. Instead, she says she was left dealing with injuries that changed her entire trip.
