Karl Etters

Democrat staff writer

Usually game for after-meal selfies, a donkey statue at a popular Southwood restaurant could be endangered after a woman claimed the statuesque burro unexpectedly injured her.

Kimberly Bonn said she fell from the sometimes sombrero-wearing statue inside El Jalisco Mexican restaurant and broke her back almost 18 months ago. She is accusing the eatery of negligence.

In a Friday Leon County Circuit Court filing, Bonn claims that on Aug. 31, 2015, she mounted the life-size donkey statue to have her picture taken when she slipped off the back, fell on the floor and fractured her spine.

The civil complaint contends the restaurant encouraged customers to climb on the statue, which without a ladder, step or stair to assist and without a saddle on the slick surface created a safety hazard. El Jalisco, the complaint says, was negligent in creating the hazard without adequate safety features or determining the slick surface was dangerous. The complaint was first reported by Florida Politics.

Bonn is being represented by Morgan & Morgan attorney James G. Biggart. Attempts to reach the restaurant for a comment Tuesday were unsuccessful.

El Jalisco donkey goes global; John Morgan chimes in

Meanwhile, others are speaking up for the attraction that is popular with both children and adult patrons. Worried fans created a "For the Donkey" Facebook page as news of the lawsuit galloped through Tallahassee Tuesday.

"Just because you are an a*s doesn't mean you should be treated like one! Join us in standing up for this poor donkey as he prepares for the fight of his life against a powerful legal entity who is "for the people" The post urges readers to share the page and pictures using #ForTheDonkey.

There are four El Jalisco restaurants in Tallahassee.

Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @KarlEtters.

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