A Florida jury awarded the family of Tyre Sampson, a Missouri teen who died while on a free-fall ride at an amusement park, a $310 million verdict. The verdict was against the Austrian company that manufactured the ride, Funtime Handels GMBH. The jury found that Tyre’s death was the result of negligence and a failure to prioritize safety over profits. The manufacturer did not send a representative to court, and the damages were split evenly between Tyre’s mother and father. Tyre, who weighed 383 pounds, fell at least 100 feet from the ride, which had no seat belts. The family had previously reached a settlement with two other defendants named in the lawsuit.
The ride has since been dismantled, and in May 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Tyre Sampson Act into law, which enhances safety standards for amusement park rides. Family attorney Ben Crump stated that the verdict is a step forward in holding corporations accountable for the safety of their products. The manufacturer did not respond to a request for comment. This case highlights the importance of prioritizing safety in amusement park rides to prevent tragic accidents like Tyre’s death.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com