A mother in Oregon is suing a family-run pumpkin patch for $2.2 million, alleging negligence led to severe injuries sustained during a fall in October 2024. Paige Jean Smith filed the lawsuit in Oregon Circuit Court in August, claiming the Red Berry Barn is responsible for the fractures she suffered when she slipped on a muddy track while assisting her child.
According to the complaint, Smith was helping her child onto the farm's zipline when she was instructed to descend a raised platform via a slope. The complaint states that the egress was muddy, slippery, and unsafe, causing Smith to fall and break her tibia, fibula, and ankle.
Smith's legal filing details a range of alleged injuries beyond the initial fractures, including chronic ankle pain, arthritis, upper body injuries, depression, post-traumatic mental distress, deformity of her right lower limb, hypersensitivity, and a persistent burning sensation on her injured ankle. Her lawyers contend she has undergone surgery, experienced incapacitation, and now has a predisposition to injury in the affected area, with a greater susceptibility to arthritis.
The lawsuit further accuses Red Berry Barn of negligence in its operation of a zipline, which it argues was not necessary for a pumpkin patch and lacked agricultural purpose. The complaint alleges the farm failed to provide adequate safety instructions and created an unreasonable risk of falling for patrons.
Smith's legal team asserts that the farm's owners were aware of the zipline's alleged unsafe conditions and were negligent in their duty of care to patrons. The requested damages include $2 million in general compensation, along with $155,000 for past medical expenses and $50,000 for future medical costs.
The lawsuit names Aaron and Erika Wilcott, owners of Red Berry Barn, as defendants. The farm, located in Sherwood, Oregon, is known for its annual Harvest Festival, which typically runs from September 19 to October 31 and includes attractions such as a mega slide, ziplines, and a climbing tower. The Wilcotts are described on the farm's website as having agricultural backgrounds and aiming to provide a family-friendly experience. As of early September 2026, the court docket does not list an attorney for the Wilcotts, and they have not yet responded to the allegations.
