GAcoaster Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 From the Louisville Courier Journal: Ky. Kingdom sues ride maker over accident Four years before a Louisville teen’s feet were severed by a cable that snapped on a Kentucky Kingdom ride, the cable’s manufacturer had sent the park the wrong cables, or wire ropes, to install — cables that were inappropriate to use on the ride, according to a suit filed by Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. And the manufacturer of the Superman Tower of Power ride, Intamin Ltd, which has offices in Switzerland and Maryland, made the ride available to the public without a mechanism for automatically shutting it off in the event a cable failed, the suit claims. In its complaint, filed in Jefferson Circuit Court on Friday, Kentucky Kingdom claims both Intamin and the cable’s maker and providers are most responsible for the injuries to Kaitlyn Lasitter and two other girls. For example, the park alleges that Intamin designed and engineered the Superman Tower of Power with nearly 100 events that triggered an automatic shutdown of the ride. But wire rope failure was not included, according to the suit. Kentucky Kingdom has been sued by Kaitlyn’s parents — as well as by the other two girls who were hurt, Blair Johnson and Arin Valsted — because of the June 21, 2007 accident. It has denied liability, saying Intamin and those responsible for the wrong cable may be liable for “all or part of the injuries and damages incurred by Lassiter†and her friends. “Intamin defectively designed, engineered and manufactured the Superman TOP†and made it available to the public, despite its defects, when it was foreseeable that injury could occur, according to the complaint. The park claims Intamin also failed to warn Six Flags that the Tower of Power’s wire ropes were subject to excessive fatigue. A man who answered the phone for Intamin in Maryland today said no one had time to speak with a reporter. Kentucky Kingdom also claims that in 2003 three companies provided the wrong wire ropes for the Tower of Power ride, despite an “explicit†order from the park for the correct ropes. Those companies are Coaster Gems Inc., based in Maryland; ABC Engineering GmbH, a Swiss Company; and Brugg North America Inc, located in Georgia. Spokesmen for Coaster Gems, Brugg and ABC could not be reached for comment. Kentucky Kingdom will ask Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Barry Willett on Monday to allow its complaint to join the Lasitters’lawsuit. Randy and Monique Lasitter, Kaitlyn’s parents, have claimed that the park failed to maintain the ride and ensure riders’ safety. They have not sued the manufacturer or the cable maker. In May state agriculture officials said it’s impossible to pinpoint why the cable became fatigued and snapped but that Kaitlyn’s injuries would have been limited to “cuts and scrapes†if the ride operator had immediately hit the emergency stop button on the ride. And they said the accident might have been avoided altogether had park workers followed the ride manual’s instructions for detecting deterioration in the cable before it snapped. I always wonder how this works. A company like Six Flags or Cedar Fair sues a company like INTAMIN or Vekoma, but they still have to do business with them on a day to day basis. How tense is that relationship? Is it just like "let the lawyers fight while we go on like nothing happened" or do the manufacturers turn their backs on the park companies? With today's announcement that SROS at SFNE is getting a makeover with new trains, I would have to assume they are working with INTAMIN to do it, and they rely on INTAMIN for assistance with all their other rides (KK, ET, etc.), but at the same time they're taking them to court... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkridedan Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 (edited) Go K. Kingdom! I hope Six Flags doesn't bankrupt INTAMIN like they did with Arrow. I know INTAMIN is a financially stronger company. They are still choosing to operate three of these rides at their other parks. Edited September 16, 2008 by darkridedan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAcoaster Posted September 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 I hope Six Flags doesn't bankrupt INTAMIN like they did with Arrow. And Vekoma (although that was no great loss, and they did recover). It should have been Arrow that survived and Vekoma that went away... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CablesEric Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 I always wonder how this works. A company like Six Flags or Cedar Fair sues a company like INTAMIN or Vekoma, but they still have to do business with them on a day to day basis. How tense is that relationship? Is it just like "let the lawyers fight while we go on like nothing happened" or do the manufacturers turn their backs on the park companies? It's similar to car accidents. If you are driving and your best friend is in the car with you, he will sue you. One of the many mysteries of our current society. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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