Case Background

On May 13, 2022, Nekia Dodd and Yarnell Sampson, co-personal representatives of Tyre Sampson’s estate, brought a wrongful death action in the Circuit Court of the 9th Judicial Circuit, Orange County, Florida, Case No. 2022-CA-003570-0. The case stemmed from a fatal accident on the Free Fall ride at Icon Park in Orlando. The ride, owned and operated by Orlando Eagle Drop LLC, was the world’s tallest free-standing drop tower at 430 feet.

Cause

On March 24, 2022, Tyre Sampson was ejected from the Free Fall ride during its descent. The ride tilted forward 30 degrees and dropped several hundred feet at over 75 mph, creating a g-force of around 4 on stopping. The only restraint was an over-the-shoulder harness. Plaintiffs alleged that a seatbelt costing $22 per seat could have prevented the tragedy. They also sought to correct a party’s legal name in the complaint.

Injury

Tyre Sampson died f