A jury has ruled in favor of Tyre Sampson's family, awarding $310 million after the 14-year-old plummeted from a ride with no seatbelts at ICON Park in Orlando, prompting safety reforms.**
Florida Jury Orders $310 Million Payout for Teen's Death on Amusement Ride**
Florida Jury Orders $310 Million Payout for Teen's Death on Amusement Ride**
Family awarded damages after Tyre Sampson fell from a ride lacking proper safety measures.**
In a landmark decision, a Florida jury has awarded $310 million to the family of Tyre Sampson, a teenager who tragically fell to his death from a drop ride at ICON theme park in Orlando in 2022. At the time of the incident, Tyre weighed 43 kg (94 lbs) over the ride’s weight limit of 129 kg (285 lbs) and was using a ride that was not equipped with safety restraints. The family's legal counsel argued that the death was the product of systemic safety negligence on the part of both the ride manufacturer and operator.
The manufacturer, Funtime Handels GMBH based in Austria, failed to send a representative to the court proceedings and did not list any legal counsel in court filings. During the spring break visit, Tyre, who was only 14 years old, fell approximately 30 meters (98 feet) from the ride and succumbed to his injuries at a nearby children's hospital. This jury's verdict aims to compensate for the pain and suffering experienced by Tyre's family due to his untimely death.
Tyre’s family attorney, Ben Crump, emphasized that this incident reflects a severe disregard for safety in the amusement industry, prioritizing profits over human life. The damages awarded by the jury will be equally distributed between Tyre's mother and father, who initiated their civil lawsuit shortly after the tragedy occurred. In a prior settlement made last year, the family received an undisclosed amount from the ride's owner, Eagle Drop Slingshot, and the operating theme park.
Tyre’s uncle, Carl Sampson, described him as a “really good kid” who was intelligent and well-loved. The tragic accident has prompted significant safety reforms in Florida, leading Governor Ron DeSantis to sign the Tyre Sampson Act into law in May 2023. This new legislation aims to enforce stricter safety standards for amusement rides, mandating the installation of seatbelts and harness systems on rides exceeding 100 feet in height. "This verdict is a step forward in holding corporations accountable for the safety of their products," remarked Mr. Crump following the jury's decision.
The manufacturer, Funtime Handels GMBH based in Austria, failed to send a representative to the court proceedings and did not list any legal counsel in court filings. During the spring break visit, Tyre, who was only 14 years old, fell approximately 30 meters (98 feet) from the ride and succumbed to his injuries at a nearby children's hospital. This jury's verdict aims to compensate for the pain and suffering experienced by Tyre's family due to his untimely death.
Tyre’s family attorney, Ben Crump, emphasized that this incident reflects a severe disregard for safety in the amusement industry, prioritizing profits over human life. The damages awarded by the jury will be equally distributed between Tyre's mother and father, who initiated their civil lawsuit shortly after the tragedy occurred. In a prior settlement made last year, the family received an undisclosed amount from the ride's owner, Eagle Drop Slingshot, and the operating theme park.
Tyre’s uncle, Carl Sampson, described him as a “really good kid” who was intelligent and well-loved. The tragic accident has prompted significant safety reforms in Florida, leading Governor Ron DeSantis to sign the Tyre Sampson Act into law in May 2023. This new legislation aims to enforce stricter safety standards for amusement rides, mandating the installation of seatbelts and harness systems on rides exceeding 100 feet in height. "This verdict is a step forward in holding corporations accountable for the safety of their products," remarked Mr. Crump following the jury's decision.
