But child abuse attorney Michael Steinger says the theme park is safe
ORLANDO – AT least 35 Disney employees have been arrested in sex stings since 2006, according to a new report. Attorney Michael Steinger, who focuses on child abuse cases, says the numbers are disturbing do not signal a safety crisis.
The stings were not specifically focused on theme park employees, but caught a number of them according to the investigative report by CNN (retrieved 7/24/2014). In addition to Disney, five employees from Universal Studios and two from SeaWorld were also arrested. Charges ranged from sex crimes involving children to possession of child pornography.
“Theme parks are a place where children gather and that makes them a tempting setting for child sex predators,” said Steinger, the founder of Steinger, Greene & Feiner law firm. “It’s not surprising that so many were found working there.”
However, Steinger says it’s important to put the numbers in perspective.
“Disney’s theme park has 70,000 employees at a time,” he said. “A decade of stings turned up 35 suspected predators, and none of them are known to have approached children at the theme park.”
Instead, the stings used detectives posing as minors online to attract would-be predators, who were then arrested when they tried to meet the “minor” for sex. Still, Steinger admits the results are alarming.
“It should serve as a wakeup call to parents in all kinds of settings,” he said. “Disney puts a lot of resources into screening its employees. But a school, a church or a summer camp might not have those resources. It’s important to remember that predators can strike anywhere there are children.”
So far, 32 of the suspects have been convicted.
“Most likely, Disney is as safe as anywhere you could take your kids,” Steinger said. “But someone you trust should be supervising them no matter where they are.”
About Steinger, Greene & Feiner:
Steinger, Greene & Feiner is a proven legal team whose number one goal is to get injury victims throughout Florida every dollar they truly deserve for their injuries. Since 1997, the firm’s lawyers have successfully handled cases including: auto accidents, bicycle accidents, birth injuries and medical malpractice. The entire legal team is committed to representing and fighting for injury victims’ best interests, giving each client insight into Florida law and their rights.
Steinger, Greene & Feiner is a legal team with more than 30 lawyers and 140 legal professionals. With offices throughout South Florida – Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Port St Lucie, Okeechobee, Ft Myers, Orlando and Tampa – the firm is ready to advocate for the best interests of injury victims coast-to-coast Steinger, Greene & Feiner has recovered more than $500 million for their clients.
About the Author
Michael Steinger
MICHAEL S. STEINGER, founding partner of Steinger, Greene & Feiner, believes in representing real people, not big businesses. Since the firm’s creation in 1997, Steinger, Greene & Feiner has never represented an insurance company or large corporation, and he vows to keep this promise. Over the course of his career, Michael has handled thousands of Florida accident cases, recovering millions of dollars for his clients and earning him membership into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Staying up-to-date on the ever-evolving laws protecting injury victims and their families, Michael is an active member of the American Bar Association, the Palm Beach, and St. Lucie Bar Associations, and sits on the Auto Insurance Committee of the Florida Justice Association.
Michael Steinger
MICHAEL S. STEINGER, founding partner of Steinger, Greene & Feiner, believes in representing real people, not big businesses. Since the firm’s creation in 1997, Steinger, Greene & Feiner has never represented an insurance company or large corporation, and he vows to keep this promise. Over the course of his career, Michael has handled thousands of Florida accident cases, recovering millions of dollars for his clients and earning him membership into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Staying up-to-date on the ever-evolving laws protecting injury victims and their families, Michael is an active member of the American Bar Association, the Palm Beach, and St. Lucie Bar Associations, and sits on the Auto Insurance Committee of the Florida Justice Association.