Florida

Florida Advocates Rally for Overhaul of Gun Regulations Established After Parkland Tragedy

by

Tallahassee, Florida — A new legislative effort is underway in Florida to repeal several gun restrictions that were enacted following the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland in 2018. The controversial move, spearheaded by Republican lawmakers, aims to rescind provisions that were implemented as part of a broader safety effort to prevent future mass shootings. At the heart of the proposed legislative rollback is the removal of the requirement that gun buyers be at least 21 years old. This regulation, among others, was instituted after the tragedy in Parkland, where a … Read more

$310 Million Awarded to Family of Teen After Fatal Amusement Park Ride Incident in Florida

by

Orlando, FL – A Florida jury has awarded a substantial $310 million in damages to the family of a 14-year-old boy who tragically died after falling from a towering amusement park ride. The incident, which occurred in March 2022 at Icon Park in Orlando, involved Tyre Sampson slipping from the Freefall Drop Tower, a ride that had been modified to accommodate his size. An investigation by state authorities revealed that modifications made to two seats on the ride contributed to the fatal accident. These adjustments allowed Sampson to slip out from the safety harness meant … Read more

Florida Inmate Pleads Guilty to Sending Death Threats to Judge and Prosecutor

by

Jacksonville, Florida – A 27-year-old Florida inmate has admitted to sending threatening letters from prison targeting a prosecutor and a judge who were involved in his prior convictions for violent crimes. Taylor Ryan Hill, a resident of Jacksonville, entered a guilty plea to charges of mailing threatening communications, which could see him face up to five years in federal prison. The court has yet to schedule a sentencing date. Hill was incarcerated at Hardee Correctional Institution in Bowling Green, Florida, on Feb. 12, 2024, when authorities report he sent a menacing letter to an Assistant … Read more

Jury Awards $310 Million to Family After Tragic Fall at Florida Amusement Park

by

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A Florida jury awarded $310 million to the parents of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson, who tragically died after falling from a 400-foot drop tower ride at Orlando’s ICON Park last year. The Orange County jury decided on the sum, splitting it equally with $155 million apiece for his mother and father. The legal proceedings began on Thursday surrounding the lawsuit initiated by Sampson’s family after his fatal plunge on March 24, 2022, from the Orlando FreeFall attraction — at the time billed as the world’s tallest freestanding drop tower. The thrill ride, … Read more