ORLANDO, Fla. – Nearly three years after a 14-year-old’s deadly fall from the Orlando FreeFall drop tower, Morgan & Morgan has filed a lawsuit against its ride operator.
The Orlando-based law firm filed a lawsuit on behalf of a former maintenance technician after he raised safety issues with the FreeFall ride that resulted in Tyre Sampson’s death.
Austin Alexander, who worked as a maintenance technician for Orlando Eagle Drop Slingshot from April 2021 to March 2023, reportedly identified several safety issues with the FreeFall ride that was located at ICON Park.
Among the concerns were overridden sensors to accommodate larger patrons, overheated cylinders affecting seat security, and cracks in the ride’s metal structure. Despite reporting these issues to his supervisor, Alexander claims the company continued operating the ride without addressing the safety concerns, the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit further states that during the investigation into the minor’s death, Alexander was asked to falsify maintenance logs to reflect tasks as completed prior to the incident. After refusing to comply, he was placed on paid administrative leave for a year. Following the settlement of a civil lawsuit with the minor’s family, Alexander’s employment was terminated, which he alleges was in retaliation for his whistleblowing actions.
In response to the allegations, attorneys for the FreeFall owners provided the following statement to News 6:
“Our clients promptly investigated the tragic accident that resulted in the death of Tyre Sampson. Upon discovering that Mr. Campbell-Alexander adjusted the sensors that resulted in the accident, he was suspended and relieved of any further involvement or access to any rides. Upon learning of Mr. Campbell-Alexander’s and other employees’ conduct, we proactively notified investigating authorities. At all times, we cooperated with the investigators. We worked diligently to resolve the litigation and claims with Tyre’s family as well as the administrative agencies involved. Mr. Campbell-Alexander’s claims are in direct conflict with statements he provided following the accident, which will no doubt be demonstrated in Court.”
Trevor Arnold and Brian Bieber, GrayRobinson, PA
Morgan & Morgan attorneys similarly addressed that response as follows:
“Defendants trying to pass blame onto Mr. Alexander is akin to a heart surgeon blaming the front desk coordinator for their own medical error in an operating room. Mr. Alexander possessed neither the authority nor the mechanical skills to adjust ride seat sensors on his own. At all times, the decisions regarding the ride sensors and the safe mechanical operations of the ride were made solely by Defendants and Defendants alone, not Mr. Alexander.
“Regardless, this case is not a re-trial of the claims of gross negligence previously brought against Defendants, which Defendants already settled out of court. Mr. Alexander’s claims are under the Florida Whistleblower Act which requires Mr. Alexander to show Defendants were breaking a law, rule or regulation, Mr. Alexander complained about such illegal actions by Defendants and that Mr. Alexander was retaliated against because of his opposition to Defendants alleged illegal practices. We believe the allegations and circumstances alleged in the Complaint make it abundantly clear this was the case here. We look forward to litigating this matter in Court and standing behind Florida workers who are retaliated against for doing the right thing so this does not happen again.”
Morgan & Morgan
Sampson,14, died on March 24, 2022, when he fell from the 430-foot drop tower attraction while visiting on spring break. In the aftermath of his death, inspectors revealed the teen had been too big for the ride and the shoulder harness wasn’t secured.
The ride has since been taken down.
In 2023, Orlando Eagle Drop Slingshot reached a settlement with the state and agreed never to operate the drop tower again.
The full lawsuit has been attached to this story and can be read in the media viewer below.
