A settlement for an undisclosed amount has resolved a lawsuit against Oaks Amusement Park and the manufacturer of a faulty ride – called the AtmosFEAR. The lawsuit was brought on by three minors who got stuck on the ride, hanging upside down for 25 minutes.
Each of the children reported that they suffered several painful wounds from chest straps cutting into their shoulders, bruising around their neck, shoulders, and chest, as well as dizziness, headaches and numbness in their limbs and extremities. Additionally, the children continue to endure psychological trauma from the episode, such as terror, fright, fear of heights, emotional distress, anxiety and interference with their usual activities.
Due to the severe and persistent psychological and physiological damage done to these minors, Jason Kafoury; attorney for the plaintiffs; had asked for a judgement against the defendant in the amount of $1 million for each plaintiff. In the end, Kafoury & McDougal settled with Oaks Park for a confidential amount.
This lawsuit ran concurrently with another in which Underdog Law represented two female minors who were also on the ride. On Wednesday, a Portland jury announced its 10-2 verdict holding Oaks Park and the ride’s manufacturer liable for the two of the minors’ distress and responsible for paying them a total of $550,000 in compensatory damages that came with it. Each of the two girls will receive $275,000.
Oaks Park has since reported adding a safety feature to the AtmosFEAR that immediately returns the ride back to its home position, should it get stuck again. However, parents of the minors who had to endure this trauma ask why the safety feature was not already implemented when their children were on the ride.
There are still over a dozen children who suffered on this same ride and have not yet filed a suit. If you or someone you know was on this ride you may have a potential claim, feel free to call our office at 503-224-2647 for a free legal consultation. Visit our website @ kafourymcdougal.com for more information.
Read More:
Jury awards $550,000 to teens stuck upside down on Portland ride for 25 minutes – oregonlive.com
Oregon teens trapped upside down on Portland amusement park ride AtmosFEAR score legal victory