Jennifer Wright of Defiance, Ohio allegedly suffered a hip injury that her attorney claims will require several replacements over her lifetime. She is asking the jury to force Kings Island to pay for punitive damages.
The jury first has to find Kings Island caused Wright’s injuries, then it will consider if the park should be punished. Wright’s case was originally coupled with five other cases relating to the same incident, but the other plaintiffs have all settled.
“The defendants, Cedar Fair and PKI, acted with conscious disregard for the rights and safety of the plaintiff by failing to exercise care in the inspection, maintenance and condition of the Son of Beast,” her Springboro attorney John Scaccia wrote in the complaint.
Sandusky-based Cedar Fair purchased Kings Island from Paramount on May 22, 2006.
Scaccia said he can’t discuss details of the case, but added Kings Island hasn’t made any “worthy” settlement offers. In his pre-trial statement, Scaccia says his client’s medical bills have already topped $24,000 and future bills could be as high as $157,541 for three hip replacements.
Scaccia hired SEA LTD., the same company used by the Ohio Department of Agriculture — the state agency responsible for inspecting amusement park rides — to investigate the accident.
Another case, filed by the Schmidt family of Hamilton, is scheduled to go to trial on Nov. 2. The mother and father were off of work for many weeks after the roller coaster ride, Cincinnati attorney Michael Weisensel said. He said they are still in settlement talks with the amusement park.
Attorneys representing Kings Island said they do not discuss pending litigation.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4525 or dcallahan@coxohio.com.
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