ORLANDO, Fla. — A Missouri couple has been awarded a mammoth $310 million in a lawsuit regarding the tragic death of their 14-year-old son, who lost his life in a horrifying accident at an Orlando amusement park last year. The hefty sum was decided upon late Thursday when an Orange County jury found the ride’s Austrian manufacturer, Funtime, liable, assigning $155 million in damages to each of Tyre Sampson’s parents, Nekia Dodd and Yarnell Sampson.
Tyre Sampson met his untimely demise on March 24, 2022, after he fell approximately 70 feet from the Orlando Free Fall ride at Icon Park. Despite the gravity of the incident, representatives from Funtime did not make an appearance in court to present their defense.
It was disclosed that the amusement park hosting the ride, Icon Park, had pre-emptively reached a confidential settlement with the Sampson family over the catastrophic event which claimed their son’s life.
Ben Crump and Natalie Jackson, attorneys representing the Sampson family, conveyed their satisfaction with the jury’s verdict. They reiterated that the manufacturer’s negligence in ensuring the ride’s safety was glaring, emphasizing that the financial judgment was a step towards holding the negligent parties accountable for prioritizing profit over safety.
The Sampson family now faces the challenge of enforcing the jury’s verdict in Austria, where Funtime is based, to collect the awarded damages.
Attempts to get comments from Funtime were met with silence as the company did not respond to inquiries following the trial verdict. Funtime is known for producing extreme thrill rides, which include features such as high-speed rotations and drops from significant heights.
Sampson, who was visiting from St. Louis for spring break, was described as a promising football player. During his visit, he and friends went to Icon Park where he boarded the Orlando Free Fall. The ride involved strapping passengers onto a tower with a shoulder harness but lacked seat belts – commonly used in similar rides for added safety. Unfortunately, due to Sampson’s larger frame, the harness failed to secure him properly leading to his fatal fall when the ride decelerated.
Following the accident, state regulators shuttered the attraction permanently, and it is currently under demolition.
During the litigation, it was argued that for a mere cost of $660, the ride could have been equipped with seat belts, which might have prevented this tragedy. The Sampson family contended that both Orlando Slingshot, the operator, and Funtime, failed to provide adequate warnings or safe restraints for individuals of Sampson’s size.
This tragic incident raises profound concerns regarding the safety protocols and regulations adhered to by amusement parks and ride manufacturers globally. The substantial financial penalty levied in this case underscores the legal and moral responsibilities that entertainment venues have towards ensuring the safety of their patrons.
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