Tire Sampson’s parents made $300 million from the entertainment game Death
Sampson tires was on spring break in Orlando when he fell about 100 feet while riding the drop tower. It was March 2022. He was 14 years old and visited ICON Park with his football team. A month after the teenager’s death, his family sued ICON, the game’s owner, Eagle Drop Slingshot, and the game’s maker, Funtime Handels GmbH, according to NBC News.
RELATED: Tire Sampson’s parents file wrongful death lawsuit against Orlando’s ICON Park
As of Thursday (December 5), Tire Sampson’s parents became millionaires from their settlement with Funtime. A jury in Florida reportedly awarded the family $310 million after a quick trial. Last year, Tire’s parents also settled with two other defendants for an undisclosed amount. The latest prize will be divided equally between Tyre’s father and mother for $155 million each.
Family attorney Ben Crump said the settlement with Funtime is a “step forward” in holding these types of entertainment corporations accountable.
“This ruling is a step forward in holding corporations accountable for the safety of their products,” Crump’s statement said. “The jury’s decision confirms what we have long argued: Tire’s death was the result of gross negligence and failure to prioritize safety over profits.”
What happened to Sampson falling while driving on the tire drop tower?
The case went through a civil trial and a jury in Orange County awarded the million dollars after about an hour of deliberation. Jury selection also took place on Thursday. Funtime Handels GmbH is headquartered in Austria.
At the time of Tire Sampson’s fatal fall, the teenager weighed 383 pounds, nearly 100 pounds more than the amusement ride’s 285-pound limit. Additionally, the ride does not have seat belts.
Within a year of Tire’s death, on March 14, 2023, cranes dismantled the FreeFall slide at ICON Park. The tower ride has a height of 430 feet. A few months later, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Tire Sampson Act into law to strengthen mandatory safety standards for amusement parks. In Orlando alone, there are more than 18 similar entertainment venues.
RELATED: Oh no! A man climbed off a moving roller coaster in Arizona after the safety bar was unlatched
What do you think about Roomies?
