A Broward County man says a supposedly “free” baby gator photo op at the end of a Central Florida airboat tour cost him more than a souvenir snapshot, leaving him with a bite to the face and a negligence lawsuit. The complaint, filed May 20, 2026, names Airboat Rides at Midway and alleges an employee handed the guest a live alligator during a post-tour encounter on the St. Johns River east of Christmas. The plaintiff claims he suffered a serious wound and is seeking at least $50,000 in damages, accusing the operator of failing to warn him and of providing inadequate training or supervision.
What the Lawsuit Says
According to the court filing, plaintiff Edil Kasenov, identified as a Broward County resident, says he was bitten in the face when a small alligator handed to him by an employee suddenly turned and clamped down. The complaint, filed in Orange County on May 20, 2026, alleges the company never warned him about the animal’s “vicious nature” and failed to properly train or supervise staff handling the encounter. As reported by WESH, the suit seeks at least $50,000 in damages.
Airboat Photo Op Under Scrutiny
Airboat Rides at Midway promotes a free alligator encounter at the end of each tour, inviting guests to hold a baby gator for photos, an experience it highlights prominently on its booking pages. The company lists its boarding location on East Colonial Drive near Christmas and identifies its program gator as “Hollywood” on its website. Airboat Rides at Midway presents the encounter as part of its standard one-hour tour offering.
Legal Backdrop For Wild-Animal Claims
Under Florida law, landowners and operators are often not held strictly liable for injuries caused by indigenous wild animals unless the owner has taken the animal into possession, introduced it, or otherwise “harbored” it, a principle courts have applied in prior alligator and wildlife cases. Legal commentators say a plaintiff’s strongest argument is usually to show that an operator exercised control over the animal or knew of a specific, avoidable risk. For background on how courts and statutes treat these disputes, commentary from a regional law firm and state wildlife rules are frequently cited. Taylor, Day, Grimm & Boyd and the Florida statutes on wildlife provide additional context.
What Comes Next
The complaint is pending in Orange County. WESH reports the station reached out to the operator for comment. Public business records also show an Edil Kasenov listed in Florida filings, corresponding to the name on the lawsuit. Whether the case survives early legal challenges will likely hinge on what discovery reveals about how the animal was handled and what warnings, if any, were given to guests before they posed with the baby gator.
