Jury Awards $310 Million to Tyre Sampson's Family

An Orange County jury has awarded $310 million to the family of Tyre Sampson, a 14-year-old who fell to his death from the FreeFall drop tower at ICON Park in March 2022. The jury found Funtime Handels, the manufacturer of the ride, liable for negligence due to improper safety measures that allowed Sampson to slip from his harness during the ride. Investigations revealed that modifications made to accommodate larger riders had compromised safety standards, and Sampson's weight exceeded the ride's posted limit by 100 pounds. The Sampson family had previously settled lawsuits against ICON Park and the ride's operator but pursued this case specifically against the manufacturer. Following this tragic incident, Florida has enacted the Tyre Sampson Act to enhance safety regulations for amusement park rides. The substantial verdict serves as a clear message about the necessity of prioritizing rider safety in the amusement park industry.