Orlando, Florida – In a landmark decision, a Florida jury awarded $310 million to the family of Tyre Sampson, a 14-year-old boy who tragically died after falling from a ride at Icon Park last year. The verdict was announced following a one-day trial in Orlando, targeting Funtime, the Austrian company responsible for manufacturing the ride known as Orlando FreeFall.
The court found Funtime negligent in the incident, which did not have a company representative present during the proceedings. The jury’s ruling underscores a significant moment of accountability for the safety measures of corporations in the amusement industry.
Ben Crump, the attorney representing Sampson’s family, emphasized that the verdict was a confirmation of the concerns they had long harbored about the safety practices of the ride’s manufacturers. “The ride’s manufacturers neglected their duty to protect passengers,” Crump stated, marking the court’s decision as a crucial step towards ensuring such negligence does not go unchecked.
In April 2022, Sampson’s parents, Nekia Dodd and Yarnell Sampson, initiated a wrongful death lawsuit, which saw settlements reached in March 2023 with two other defendants before this substantial verdict against Funtime. The financial compensation was equally divided between Sampson’s mother and father.
Tyre Sampson, who hailed from St. Louis, Missouri, was visiting Icon Park during a spring break trip when the tragedy occurred. Despite ride guidelines stipulating a maximum passenger weight of 286 pounds, Sampson, who weighed 360 pounds, fell over 100 feet to his death. Following his fatal fall on March 24, 2022, the towering 430-foot attraction was subsequently dismantled.
The incident not only caused heartbreak but also led to legislative change. Recently, the “Tyre Sampson Act” was passed by the Florida Legislature, introducing enhanced safety standards and measures for amusement rides across the state.
Crump hopes that the legal consequences and the newly implemented safety laws will serve as a deterrent to future negligence. “We hope this case serves as a wake-up call for the entire industry to implement stricter safety measures and oversight to prevent such tragedies from happening again,” he remarked.
In his statement, Crump also noted, “Tyre’s legacy will be a safer future for riders everywhere,” highlighting an aspiration that the young boy’s death will lead to a lasting impact on amusement ride safety standards.
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