In a decisive legal outcome, the Orange County jury awarded $310 million yesterday to the parents of Tyre Sampson, the 14-year-old boy who tragically lost his life after falling from an Orlando amusement park ride in March 2022. The verdict comes from a lawsuit against Funtime, the Austrian company responsible for manufacturing the ride from which Tyre fell.
The sum is split equally between Tyre’s parents, Nekia Dodd and Yarnell Sampson. Reflecting on the outcome, the family's attorneys, Ben Crump and Natalie Jackson stated, “The jury’s decision confirms what we have long argued: Tyre’s death was the result of blatant negligence and a failure to prioritize safety over profits.” Funtime, the defendant in the case, did not appear in court on the trial day, nor did they immediately respond for comment today following the verdict, as reported by AP News.
Prior settlements had already been reached with Icon Park, where the incident took place. However, Funtime, the "FUNTIME" company based out of Austria, is the last sued entity to be held accountable. The attraction, Orlando Free Fall, was a tower ride that ended in tragedy for Tyre when the rider's shoulder harness, unable to secure due to his size properly, led to his ejection from the ride. The additional safety measure of seat belts, which most drop rides possess and could have been installed for $660, was absent on the ride.
The state took immediate action post-incident, ordering the ride's closure, leading to its eventual deconstruction. As per a report by WFTV, Tyre’s family, amid the grievance, will look to an Austrian court to enforce the collection of the compensatory damages. This verdict does not mark the end but a chapter in a protracted battle for accountability spanning oceans and legal systems. The "default case" resulted from Funtime's discontinuing active participation in the legal process, leaving the jury merely quantifying the compensation due to the Sampson family.
