Orlando, Florida – A $310 million verdict has been awarded to the parents of a 14-year-old boy from Missouri who tragically died after falling from a ride at an Orlando amusement park in 2022. The substantial judgment against the ride’s Austrian manufacturer, Funtime, was handed down by an Orange County jury late Thursday.
The jury awarded $155 million each to Nekia Dodd and Yarnell Sampson, the parents of Tyre Sampson, who lost his life on March 24, 2022, after a horrific fall from the Orlando Free Fall ride at Icon Park. The legal proceedings were brief, lasting only a day, partly because the defendant, Funtime, did not present any defense in court.
Prior to this, Icon Park reached a confidential settlement with the Sampson family. The settlement amount, however, has not been disclosed.
In a post-verdict statement, attorneys Ben Crump and Natalie Jackson, representing the Sampson family, said, “The jury’s verdict underscores the grim reality of Tyre’s death due to glaring negligence.” They emphasized that the ride’s manufacturers failed significantly in their responsibility to ensure the safety of passengers, resulting in dire consequences.
To collect the awarded damages, the family’s legal team will need to pursue further legal action in Austria, where Funtime is based. The company has yet to respond to requests for comments on the jury’s decision. Funtime is known for creating high-adrenaline rides, which include attractions that involve high speeds and significant elevations.
Tyre Sampson, a notable young football player who stood 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 380 pounds, was visiting Orlando for spring break from the St. Louis area. He and his friends decided to experience the Orlando Free Fall, which lacked the seat belts typically found on such rides. Seating 30 riders at a time, the ride featured a shoulder harness system — but no seat belts — and elevated passengers to a height of 430 feet before dropping them rapidly.
Tragically, due to Sampson’s size, the harness did not secure properly. This malfunction led to him being ejected from his seat when the ride abruptly braked 70 feet above the ground.
The legal claim by Sampson’s parents stated that both Icon Park and Funtime failed to adequately warn about the risks large individuals might face on the ride and neglected to provide suitable restraint systems. Implementing additional seat belts would have incurred just $660, a detail underscored during the trial.
Following the tragedy, the state authority mandated the closure of the ride, which has since been permanently dismantled.
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