Obviously, this is a massive tragedy - the boy should have never been allowed on this ride, and the family deserves monetary relief for all the suffering this has caused.

What I don’t understand though, is how this falls so heavily on the ride’s manufacturer? With the exception of the lack of seatbelts (which is standard for similar rides, as they have over the shoulder restraints), all the major failures that lead to this incident seem to be the responsibility of the operator: Not having clear signage about weight limits? The operator. Not removing guests from the ride if they don’t fit in the restraints? The operator. Actively bypassing the safety sensors the manufacturer engineered to keep guests safe? The operator.

I truly can’t understand why all of this is being pinned on the manufacturer, especially to the tune of $310 million. I’m not saying that amount of money is too much for the family, just that it seems absurd to fall so heavily on the manufacturer, who are not in control of operation or maintenence of the ride after it’s installed.

Can anyone help me understand this, because it feels so misdirected?

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2024/12/04/trial-to-begin-after-boy-fell-to-his-death-from-orlando-freefall-thrill-ride/