PORTLAND, Ore. — Oaks Amusement Park filed a complaint on Thursday against the manufacturer of the AtmosFEAR ride that left more than two dozen people hanging upside-down for nearly half an hour in June.
The pendulum-style ride got stuck at the highest point in its rotation on June 14. For about 25 minutes, 28 riders were trapped upside-down and 50 feet in the air.
Zamperla, the maker and installer of the ride, is "negligent and responsible" for the incident and also liable for all losses costs and attorney fees, the complaint states. It also claims that Zamperla failed to keep the ride safe and did not have the proper tools or procedures to fix it.
This is all in response to a complaint filed three months ago by Amy Yannotta, on behalf of her 14-year-old daughter. The first amended complaint now seeks up to $345,000 for negligence. It alleges that riders were "screaming for their lives, throwing up, crying, passing out, and praying to God" during the time the ride was stuck.
The lawsuit claims that Yannotta's daughter experienced emotional and physical pain including "dizziness, increased heart rate, high blood pressure, and ongoing post-traumatic stress and anxiety."
Oaks Park's own complaint passes the responsibility for what happened on to Zamperla, seeking the same amount — up to $345,000 — as Yannotta's amended complaint.
Oaks Park declined to comment due to the ongoing litigation. KGW also reached out to Zamperla, but has not heard back yet.
The AtmosFEAR ride resumed operations on June 25, but with it only operating in 180° or 260° modes rather than the full 360° mode. Both the manufacturer and a state-qualified independent inspector gave the ride the green light.
Zamperla conducted a full inspection and found no mechanical, technical or maintenance issues, Oaks Park reported at the time. Oaks Park did not include any information regarding what may have caused the ride to become stuck.
