Woman sues Las Vegas bar over injuries from mechanical penis ride
Amber Zabran alleges she was thrown from the attraction at The Nerd bar and suffered serious physical and mental injuries.
LAS VEGAS — An Illinois woman has filed a lawsuit against a downtown Las Vegas bar alleging she was injured after being thrown from a mechanical penis ride last fall.
Amber Zabran's complaint, filed Wednesday in Clark County District Court, names The Nerd bar, its parent companies and co-owner Jonathan Borchetta as defendants.
The suit alleges the bar failed to maintain the attraction, warn patrons of hazards or require safety waivers before use.
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"Ride it, slide it, stay on top," is the tagline used to promote the bull ride-style attraction online.
Zabran visited the bar, located inside the Neonopolis complex at 450 Fremont Street, with friends on Nov. 22, 2025, shortly before closing time.
After paying for a turn, she was not asked to sign a waiver or release and received no verbal safety instructions, the lawsuit states.
The bar's website currently states that "a waiver is required to be signed prior to riding."
An employee operated the ride using a joystick and control panel, starting with slow circular movement before speeding up.
During its operation, Zabran's foot or ankle allegedly slipped into a cut out section beneath the main shaft of the device, throwing her from the seat.
The filing describes "great pain of body and mind," including serious physical injuries as well as shock and injury to her nervous system entailing mental stress, anxiety and anguish.
It states that some injuries may be permanent.
The lawsuit argues the ride was defective, improperly supervised and operated in a manner that increased the likelihood of a fall.
It also claims employees failed to disclose risks or warn patrons that the attraction could cause injury.
In addition to negligence, the suit alleges vicarious liability, negligent hiring, retention and supervision, and raises a res ipsa loquitur claim, a doctrine allowing plaintiffs to rely on circumstantial evidence.
Zabran seeks damages for medical expenses, lost wages and other losses, each in excess of $15,000, along with attorney's fees.
The Nerd did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Nevada's amusement ride law
Nevada law defines an amusement ride as a mechanical device that carries passengers over a fixed route primarily for amusement.
The statute requires operators to take all measures reasonably necessary to ensure passenger safety in constructing, maintaining, operating and supervising a ride.
It also directs operators to prominently post signs near embarkation points telling unfamiliar riders to ask an authorized employee for assistance and instruction.
The law places responsibilities on passengers to heed posted warnings or instructions and to conduct themselves in a way that avoids injury.
Passengers age 13 or older are deemed to assume only the inherent risks of a ride that would be open and obvious to a reasonable person.
The complaint requests a jury trial.