Three additional families have filed a lawsuit against Oaks Amusement Park following a harrowing incident last summer in which the AtmosFEAR pendulum ride malfunctioned midair, leaving riders suspended upside down for 25 minutes.
The latest filing brings the total number of lawsuits related to the June 14, 2024, malfunction to at least six. The new complaint, submitted to Multnomah County Circuit Court on May 14, seeks a total of $1.95 million in damages. The guardians—Erin Angus, Gretchen Ganey, and Kylene Parks—are each requesting $650,000 in compensation. Each had a 14-year-old child aboard the ride when it froze in place.
The plaintiffs allege that Oaks Park was negligent in both the operation of the AtmosFEAR ride and in its failure to have the appropriate tools available for a timely repair. The legal complaint also outlines the emotional and psychological toll the event continues to take on the minors involved.
According to court documents, the affected teens “suffered, continue to suffer and may permanently suffer from terror, fright, fear of heights, emotional distress, stress, anxiety, and inconvenience and interference with their normal and usual activities.”
Oaks Park has declined to comment on the pending litigation. “Oaks Park does not comment on active litigation,” said park spokeswoman Emily MacKay.
In a related move last September, Oaks Park filed a separate lawsuit against Zamperla, the Italian manufacturer of the AtmosFEAR ride. That suit accuses the company of negligence and seeks to hold it financially responsible for the malfunction, including legal fees and associated losses.
