Ohio – Keziah Lewis, a survivor of the 2017 Ohio State Fair ride accident, has been granted $20 million by a New Jersey court in a major legal victory. During operation, a row of seats broke free from the Fire Ball ride, causing one death and injuries to several others.
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The lawsuit was heard in Somerset County Courthouse, where the ride’s manufacturer, KMG, is based. The court’s ruling included $10 million in punitive damages, therefore sanctioning the maker for its negligence. With amounts going to three additional injured people and the estate of Tyler Jarrell, Lewis’s partner who died in the accident, the total compensation to all impacted parties came to $78 million.
The Cooper Elliott law firm representing the victims stated that although KMG knew about the key flaw in the ride since 2012, it did not act sufficiently to stop possible tragedies.
“This negligence, combined with the oversight by inspectors and the ride’s operators, culminated in the tragic incident,” the firm stated.
Keziah Lewis spent several months in intensive therapy following a demanding rehabilitation which included twelve operations following the incident. Though she experienced significant emotional and physical suffering, no criminal charges were pressed. After the Ohio State Highway Patrol finished its investigation, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien noted an absence of sufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution moving forward.
This lawsuit result signifies a significant recognition of the supervision and mistakes that led to the accident, thereby offering a large settlement in cash meant to pay the victims for their severe suffering and continuous recovery obstacles.
