Sprinkle Pool Mishap Leads to Lawsuit Against Museum of Ice Cream

A New York City man has filed a lawsuit against the Museum of Ice Cream, claiming that he broke his ankle after jumping into the facility’s popular “sprinkle pool.” The pool, an installation filled with large, pink plastic sprinkles, is a major attraction at the museum, which has locations in four U.S. cities.

The plaintiff, Jeremy Shorr, alleges that the museum was negligent in failing to warn visitors about the potential dangers of jumping into the pool. According to Shorr’s complaint, filed on Wednesday in a Manhattan court, the incident occurred in March 2023 while he was visiting the museum with his daughter. Shorr states that he suffered “severe and permanent personal injuries” as a result of the jump.

The lawsuit claims that the museum encourages visitors to leap into the sprinkle pool, creating what Shorr describes as a “reasonable — but false — expectation that the Sprinkle Pool is safe for such activities.” The pool, which resembles a ball pit but is only about ankle-deep, is frequently featured in photos on the museum’s website and social media, showing both children and adults playing in it. One Instagram post cited in the lawsuit even includes a caption inviting visitors to “jump in.”

Shorr asserts that his injuries were serious enough to require surgery, with the possibility of future surgeries, ongoing physical therapy, and further diagnostic tests. He is seeking unspecified damages to cover his medical costs and legal fees.

A spokesperson for the Museum of Ice Cream declined to comment on the lawsuit, according to the Associated Press.