ORLANDO, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Orlando Slingshot and ICON Park have settled wrongful death claims against them in a Florida state court stemming from the estate of Tyre Sampson, who was 14 years old when he was ejected from the Free Fall ride in 2022.
Free Fall drops riders to the ground at more than 75 miles per hour. Sampson's estate sued several companies allegedly involved with the ride, from which Sampson was ejected out of his seat.
Sampson, who was 6-foot-2 and 380 pounds, fell at least a hundred feet to his death. Court documents do not include the amounts Slingshot and Icon are paying to resolve claims that included they did not advise Sampson about height and weight restrictions.
"Nothing can ever bring back Tyre to his family, but this settlement speaks to putting entertainment entities on notice that they cannot cut corners in the operations that sacrifice safely," says a statement from the estate's lawyers, Ben Crump of Ben Crump Law and Bob Hilliard of Hilliard Martinez Gonzales.
"When these companies are irresponsible, it puts innocent lives at risk."
The accident drew considerable media attention, and the State of Florida's investigation indicated a sensor had been mis-adjusted after it was originally secured in place. It issued a $250,000 fine and ordered removal of the ride.
Other defendants who have not settled include Gerslauer Amusement Rides, which is denying liability for the seats and safety harnesses on the ride. It filed a motion to dismiss on March 15 in Orange County Circuit Court.
"(W)hat Gerstlauer sold to Funtime are separate, unassembled and non-operating component parts for seat assemblies and over-the-shoulder restraint bars," the motion says.
"Gerstlauer has no involvement or participation in the assembly, incorporation and/or installation of the over-the-shoulder restraint bars into the seat assemblies, nor their final specific location, function and operation in the finished amusement park ride."
Gerstlauer did not direct its activities to Florida and should not be subjected to jurisdiction there, it argues.