Tyre Sampson Family Wins $310 Million Verdict

A jury awarded $310 million to the family of Tyre Sampson, a 14-year-old who died in 2022 after falling from the FreeFall amusement ride at ICON Park in Orlando. The verdict holds the ride's Austrian manufacturer, Funtime Handels, responsible for negligence, as Sampson was over the ride's weight limit and improperly secured due to a mis-adjusted harness sensor. Tyre's parents, Nekia Dodd and Yarnell Sampson, will each receive $155 million, though they must seek enforcement through an Austrian court. The incident led to the ride's demolition and prompted legislative changes to enhance amusement ride safety. This case serves as a wake-up call for the amusement ride industry to implement stricter safety measures.