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Oregon Jury Awards $550,000 to Two Teens Trapped Upside Down on Portland Amusement Park Ride
Just the facts
An Oregon jury ordered Oaks Amusement Park and Italian manufacturer Zamperla to pay $275,000 each to two teenage girls following a civil trial in Multnomah County. The lawsuit originated from a June 14, 2024, incident in which the AtmosFEAR spinning pendulum ride froze vertically, trapping 30 passengers upside down. Responders from Portland Fire & Rescue assisted park technicians to manually lower the attraction after riders remained suspended for approximately 25 minutes. Court filings established that park personnel lacked required emergency equipment and specific procedures to lower the inverted ride without consulting off-site manufacturer assistance. Representatives for Oaks Park stated that safety procedures remain under active review with state safety inspectors and commercial ride manufacturers.
Why this is news
An Oregon jury voted 10-2 to award $550,000 in damages to two teenage girls who were left hanging upside down on a malfunctioning amusement park ride in Portland. The civil verdict establishes legal liability against Oaks Amusement Park and ride manufacturer Zamperla following a June 2024 incident.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.