Severed finger prompts suit at Palo Alto skating rink

An 8-year-old boy took to the ice at Winter Lodge for the Barron Park 2026 Ice Skating Party in January when an unknown man allegedly skated over his finger and permanently severed it. Now, his mother Laylo Rubina is suing the California State PTA, the ice rink facility and the city of Palo Alto, which owns Winter Lodge, for negligence, reckless conduct and failure to keep the ice rink safe. Rubina filed the suit with the Santa Clara County Superior Court on Friday after an attempt in May to pursue a claim against the city was denied by the City Attorney’s office. One of the primary issues outlined in the complaint is the fact that the ice skating event was advertised for Barron Park Elementary students and their families, a group that did not include the man who allegedly severed Rubina’s son’s little finger.

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