By Michael S. Carroll, PhD
A former maintenance technician for the Orlando Free Fall ride at Icon Park has brought a state whistleblower lawsuit against his former employer stemming from a tragic incident three years prior that saw the death of a 14-year-old and subsequent lawsuit and settlement.
Austin Campbell-Alexander stated in his claim that the Orlando Free Fall ride at Icon Park utilized modified sensors to accommodate people whose height and weight fell outside of safety limits. He further alleges that seats were unable to secure persons properly due to overheated cylinders and that the metal structure of the ride had cracks in its joints, all factors that led to the tragedy. He also claimed that neither he nor any of his colleagues were ever given and sort of training on ride maintenance or patron safety. His attorney, Greg Schmitz, claims that his concerns were brought to his manager, but nothing was ever done. The ride operators’ attorney, however, maintain that Campbell-Alexander’s claims directly conflict with statements he provided after the accident.
Background
In March 2022, 14-year-old Tyre Sampson tragically fell to his death from the Orlando FreeFall ride at Icon Park, a 430-foot drop tower ride in the heart of Orlando’s tourist area. A subsequent evaluation revealed that the cause of the accident was that Sampson was not properly secured in his seat, primarily due to mis-adjustment of the seat harness proximity sensor, which allowed the safety lights to illuminate, thereby bypassing the ride’s electronic safety mechanisms and allowing the ride to commence despite the unsafe nature of the situation. Sampson’s parents filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit against Icon Park and associated entitles in April of 2022 in the Circuit Court of the 9th Judicial Circuit in Orange County, Florida, alleging seven total counts, including negligence and strict liability against the various defendants.
In December of 2024, an Orange County jury awarded Sampson’s parents $310 million in compensation for their son’s death against the ride’s manufacturer Funtime, citing negligence and failure to ensure passenger safety. The ride has since been dismantled, and the Tyre Sampson Act was enacted in Florida to enhance amusement park safety standards. Icon Park had already settled with the family for an undisclosed amount.
Claims
Campbell-Alexander filed the whistleblower lawsuit asserting wrongful termination after the incident, alleging he was asked to falsify maintenance records so that it would appear as though certain maintenance tasks were completed prior to the accident. When he refused to do so, he claims he was put on administrative leave for a year, and following a settlement with Sampson’s family, his employment was terminated. He claims that his termination was a direct retaliation for his refusal to falsify the records.
In response to his allegations, attorneys representing the Free Fall owners claim that Campbell-Alexander himself adjusted the sensors that resulted in the accident, and that when it was discovered, he was then suspended and investigative authorities notified. They claim their client at all times cooperated with the investigation and that the allegations will be resolved in court. Campbell-Alexander’s attorneys responded that the defendants are merely attempting to pass the blame to his client and that he lacked the authority or mechanical skills to adjust the ride sensors on his own.
The Florida Whistleblower Act protects employees from retaliation for reporting or refusing to participate in violations of law, rules, or regulations and specifically applies to both private sector and state government employees. The Act aims to encourage employees to come forward and report wrongdoing without fear of job loss or other repercussions.
References
Coomes, H. (2025). Former technician sues Orlando FreeFall owners over safety concerns. https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2025/03/19/former-technician-sues-orlando-freefall-owners-over-safety-concerns/
Florida Whistleblower Act (2025). http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0100-0199/0112/Sections/0112.3187.html