Jury Awards $310 Million to Family of Teen Who Died on Orlando Amusement Ride
A Florida jury rules in favor of the family of Tyre Sampson, awarding them a substantial payout following his tragic death on a theme park ride.
In a landmark decision, a Florida jury has mandated the amusement ride manufacturer, Funtime Handels GMBH, to pay $310 million to the family of Tyre Sampson, a 14-year-old boy who tragically fell to his death from a ride at an Orlando theme park in 2022. The jury concluded that failure in safety measures and negligence by the ride operators and manufacturers were directly linked to Tyre's accident. The details surrounding his fall reveal that he exceeded the ride's weight limit, and crucially, the ride was unprotected by seat belts. Tyre, who was visiting ICON Park with his football team during spring break, succumbed to injuries at a nearby hospital after the fall. An attorney representing the family described his premature passing as a consequence of "blatant negligence" by those responsible for ensuring the safety of amusement rides. The awarded damages reflect the severe emotional and physical pain Tyrone's family experienced due to this incident. The legal action against Funtime follows a prior settlement with other defendants, including the ride’s owner and ICON Park itself. In response to the tragedy, Florida has enacted the Tyre Sampson Act, enforcing enhanced safety standards for amusement park operations, including mandatory seat belts for taller rides. This verdict symbolizes a milestone for accountability within the amusement park industry.
A Florida jury rules in favor of the family of Tyre Sampson, awarding them a substantial payout following his tragic death on a theme park ride.
In a landmark decision, a Florida jury has mandated the amusement ride manufacturer, Funtime Handels GMBH, to pay $310 million to the family of Tyre Sampson, a 14-year-old boy who tragically fell to his death from a ride at an Orlando theme park in 2022. The jury concluded that failure in safety measures and negligence by the ride operators and manufacturers were directly linked to Tyre's accident. The details surrounding his fall reveal that he exceeded the ride's weight limit, and crucially, the ride was unprotected by seat belts. Tyre, who was visiting ICON Park with his football team during spring break, succumbed to injuries at a nearby hospital after the fall. An attorney representing the family described his premature passing as a consequence of "blatant negligence" by those responsible for ensuring the safety of amusement rides. The awarded damages reflect the severe emotional and physical pain Tyrone's family experienced due to this incident. The legal action against Funtime follows a prior settlement with other defendants, including the ride’s owner and ICON Park itself. In response to the tragedy, Florida has enacted the Tyre Sampson Act, enforcing enhanced safety standards for amusement park operations, including mandatory seat belts for taller rides. This verdict symbolizes a milestone for accountability within the amusement park industry.
