Disneyland Cancels Suit Settlement

Disneyland backed out of a settlement Wednesday with a woman whose son was stabbed to death in Tomorrowland, alleging that her attorney broke a promise to keep the settlement secret.

An Orange County Superior Court jury in July had found the amusement park negligent for failing to provide adequate medical care to Mel C. Yorba, 18, when he was stabbed in 1981, and had awarded $600,000 in damages to his brother, Mark, and his mother, Ellen Reynolds of Riverside.

Last week, Reynolds’ attorney, John A. Luetto, confirmed that the case had been settled, avoiding a long appeal.

But in papers filed Wednesday, Disneyland attorney Richard E. McCain said, “The conduct of (Reynolds and Luetto) demonstrates a complete lack of integrity and constitutes material breach of the agreement.”

McCain renewed his demand for a new trial.