Oaks Amusement Park has filed a legal complaint against Zamperla, the manufacturer of the AtmosFEAR ride after a disturbing incident left riders dangling upside down. The complaint, which stems from a malfunction that occurred on June 14, was reported by KOIN. It details that 28 guests were trapped 50 feet in the air for roughly 30 minutes. The park accuses Zamperla of negligence and seeks compensation for all losses, costs, and attorney fees.
Concerning the same incident, Amy Yannotta's lawsuit on behalf of her 14-year-old daughter, allegedly suffering from emotional and physical distress following the ride malfunction, seeks up to $345,000 for negligence. As reported by KGW, riders were "screaming for their lives, throwing up, crying, passing out, and praying to God." Oaks Park's lawsuit similarly seeks up to $345,000, effectively passing the responsibility onto the ride's manufacturer, Zamperla.
After the incident, the AtmosFEAR ride was reopened, albeit with restricted movement, operating at 180° or 260° rather than the full 360° swing. This decision followed both the manufacturer's and an independent inspector’s assessments, as per Oaks Park, who, according to details by KGW, stated that a full inspection by Zamperla found no mechanical, technical, or maintenance issues at that time.
When contacted by news outlets, Oaks Park declined to comment on the ongoing legal matters. Zamperla has not yet responded to the allegations and has been silent since the news of the lawsuit broke.
