A major legal victory has been achieved by a woman who suffered serious injuries due to a malfunction of the Fire Ball ride at the Ohio State Fair in 2017. The manufacturer of the ride has been found guilty in the lawsuit filed by the victim.
Cooper Elliott, a law firm spokesperson, confirms that Keziah Lewis has been granted a sum of $20 million as a result of the lawsuit. The Somerset County Courthouse in New Jersey, where KMG, the manufacturer of the ride, is situated, is where the judge announced the ruling. The incident that prompted the lawsuit occurred when one of the seats on the ride snapped off, causing the death of one person and injuring eight others while the ride was in motion with a complete load of passengers.
After the incident, Tyler Jarrell, Lewis’ boyfriend, was pronounced dead at the fairgrounds.
The court granted Lewis a sum of $20 million, out of which $10 million were punitive damages. The court’s total award was $78 million, which was distributed among four parties who suffered injuries, including Lewis and Jarrell’s estate.
According to the Cooper Elliot firm, the ride’s defect was known to KMG as early as 2012, but they failed to inform ride owners across the country. The court found KMG’s negligence, along with the oversight of inspectors and the ride’s operators, to be the contributing factors leading to the tragic incident.
Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced that no charges would be filed following the presentation of final reports by Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers. O’Brien cited insufficient evidence to pursue a criminal case.