A Broward County man has sued an Orange County attraction after he says an alligator bit him in the face during an animal encounter at Airboat Rides at Midway.
Edil Kasenov filed the complaint May 20 in Orange County Circuit Court against DCML Enterprises, LLC, which operates as Airboat Rides @ Midway. The business owns, operates, maintains and controls property at 28501 E. Colonial Drive in Christmas, Florida, where it offers a “FREE Alligator Encounter” among other attractions.
Kasenov was a business invitee at the property on or about June 9, 2025, when he attended the alligator encounter. During the encounter, an employee handed him an alligator, which then bit him in the face.
His attorneys argue the alligator “constituted a dangerous and hazardous condition” and contend the business failed to properly train or supervise its employees in a safe and reasonable manner. The complaint further alleges the company failed to warn Kasenov about the dangerous condition.
The lawsuit contends the company owed Kasenov a duty to exercise ordinary and reasonable care in handling its animals and keeping business invitees safe — particularly during encounters involving animals “known for their dangerous propensities and vicious nature.”
The complaint states no warnings, signs or other devices were posted to alert visitors to the alleged vicious nature of the alligator. The lawsuit also claims the company took no measures to restrain the animal or otherwise protect Kasenov.
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 properly keep and control the alligator, and representing to guests that the premises were safe and suitable when they were not.
Kasenov’s attorneys further allege the dangerous condition was either created by the company or known to it, and had existed long enough that the business should have been aware of it.
Kasenov suffered serious bodily injuries as a result of the incident, the lawsuit says, 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 states the losses are either permanent or continuing and that Kasenov will sustain them into 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.