{"id":30265,"date":"2023-02-18T11:20:28","date_gmt":"2023-02-18T16:20:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=30265"},"modified":"2023-02-18T11:20:34","modified_gmt":"2023-02-18T16:20:34","slug":"orlando-freefall-operator-reaches-settlement-with-florida-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2023\/02\/18\/orlando-freefall-operator-reaches-settlement-with-florida-agency\/","title":{"rendered":"Orlando FreeFall operator reaches settlement with Florida agency"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Orlando Eagle Drop Slingshot LLC, the entity that operated the FreeFall ride in Orlando’s ICON Park, has reached a settlement agreement with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, according to a release published Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Slingshot LLC agreed not to operate the FreeFall ride anymore in the future, and also forbids the company from seeking an additional permit to operate the existing ride at any time moving forward. The agreement has special language that allows for continued testing or inspections that are a part of ongoing civil ligitation, as long as such testing is conducted without riders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to agreeing not to operate the ride in an entertainment capacity, Slingshot LLC agreed to pay a fine to the agency of $250,000, which was due on February 14.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Orlando Eagle Drop recently confirmed a settlement and resolution with FDACS.  We are pleased to have resolved this matter with FDACS without the necessity of a formal hearing.  As we publicly stated since October, we have been preparing for taking down the FreeFall ride once FDACS concluded its investigation. The final agreement we reached with FDACS allows us to proceed coordinating a timeline with all involved parties to take down the ride, which we expect will take several weeks,” Trevor Arnold, GrayRobinson P.A., attorney for Orlando Slingshot told Spectrum News in a statement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried<\/a> filed an administrative complaint seeking at least $250,000 in fines from the operator of the Orlando FreeFall ride in connection with Tyre Sampson’s death last spring. The complaint stems from the death of 14-year-old Sampson, who slipped out of his seat fell from the 430-foot drop tower ride in March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An investigation into Sampson\u2019s death found that a safety sensor had been adjusted on two of the attraction\u2019s seats, which allowed a gap of up to 7 inches between the harness and seat to accommodate larger patrons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe (Department of Agriculture\u2019s) investigation revealed that Drop Tower attendants were specifically instructed to seat \u2018larger guests\u2019 in Seats 1 and 2, indicating Respondent\u2019s awareness and exploitation of this discrepancy in settings,\u201d the complaint alleged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n