Orange County, Fla. — A jury in Orange County awarded $310 million to the parents of a 14-year-old boy who died after falling from a ride in Orlando, marking a significant verdict in a case highlighting issues of public safety and corporate negligence. The decision came swiftly Thursday evening, following a trial that began the same day with jury selection.
Tyre Sampson died in March 2022 after he fell from the Orlando FreeFall ride, which he was permitted to board despite being over the weight limit. His tragic death prompted a lawsuit by his parents, Nekia Dodd and Yarnell Sampson, targeting not only the ride’s operator but also its foreign-based manufacturers—Funtime and Gerstlauer Amusement Rides, an Austrian and a German company respectively.
The jury ruled that Funtime should compensate each parent $155 million, attributing the blame squarely on the safety failures by the manufacturer. The case was meticulously handled by civil rights and personal injury attorneys, including Ben Crump, who emphasized that the verdict was a significant step towards greater accountability for corporate entities in ensuring the safety of their consumers.
The legal team representing Sampson’s family issued a statement after the verdict that underscored the death as a result of “blatant negligence” and criticized the prioritization of profit over safety. They expressed hope that this case would catalyze the implementation of stricter safety protocols across the industry, fostering a “safer future for riders everywhere.”
The FreeFall ride, which stood as the world’s tallest drop tower at 430 feet, was notably lacking in adequate safety equipment, as it featured only an overhead seat harness and lacked the more secure seatbelt found on other similar rides. At over six feet tall and 380 pounds, Sampson slipped from his harness after the ride braked suddenly post a rapid descent. The alterations made to the harnesses, which investigators later found had been modified illegally, allowed Sampson to fit despite not being securely fastened.
Leading up to the incident, critics noted that appropriate warnings and weight restrictions were not clearly posted by the ride’s owner, Orlando Eagle Drop Slingshot. Furthermore, the inspection company, ADP & Associates Professional Inspections, faced accusations of failing to thoroughly inspect the ride prior to the accident.
In response to the outcry and investigations that followed Sampson’s death, the ride was dismantled. Earlier settlements included a $250,000 payment to the Florida Department of Agriculture by Orlando Eagle Drop Slingshot, which also agreed not to seek future permits for operating the FreeFall ride.
This tragic event led to legislative changes, prompting the Florida Legislature to pass the Tyre Sampson Act in 2023, reinforcing safety laws for amusement ride operators. Introduced by state Sen. Geraldine Thompson, the act mandates more rigorous safety documentation and restricts unauthorized modifications to ride restraint systems.
Despite these advances, the law still exempts major theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal, which can perform their own inspections. This provision and others aiming at delaying the public release of investigative records have stirred controversy and concerns about public transparency.
As regulations evolve and the industry reacts to scrutiny, the family and community alike hope such reforms will prevent future tragedies. Critics, however, remain wary of the legislative loopholes and advocate for continuous oversight and immediate transparency in times of accidents to ensure public safety.
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