Oaks Park suit alleges teen has faced post-traumatic stress since ride malfunction

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Oaks Amusement Park is facing another lawsuit after one of its rides malfunctioned last month, leaving dozens of riders upside-down for almost half an hour.

An Oregon mother filed the latest lawsuit on behalf of her 13-year-old daughter who was among the 28 passengers who were stuck mid-air after the AtmosFEAR ride unexpectedly stopped on June 14.

According to Multnomah County court documents, riders shouted, cried, vomited, passed out and prayed until the ride was finally lowered from a height of 50 feet.

No injuries were reported at the time, although Oaks Park said one individual with pre-existing medical conditions received further care at a nearby hospital “out of an abundance of caution.”

However, the lawsuit alleged at least one young girl has suffered from post-traumatic stress ever since the incident. The complaint said the teen has experienced anxiety and has had difficulty sleeping.

The plaintiff is seeking up to $345,000, alleging negligence on Oaks Parks’ account. Another rider’s mother filed a lawsuit against the organization about a week after the incident, seeking up to $125,000.

“There really haven’t been any major amusement park suits in Oregon that we’re aware of,” OlsenDaines attorney Michael Fuller told KOIN 6. “This is kind of one-of-a-kind… If anything, we expect parks to be safer because of these lawsuits. These parks have to get insurance every year and when you have accidents and when you have customers who are injured and harmed, those rates go up.”

The Oaks Park Association previously said the AtmosFEAR, which first opened in 2021, had operated without any issues up until this year. After the malfunction in mid-June, the ride reopened later that month.

A spokesperson for the amusement park said it is unable to comment on matters in litigation.