What Is the Oaks Amusement Park Lawsuit?
The Oaks Amusement Park lawsuit is a set of individual negligence suits over the June 14, 2024 AtmosFEAR ride malfunction. Riders sued the Oaks Park Association, the nonprofit that runs the Portland park.
The AtmosFEAR is a pendulum ride that stalled upside down with 28 riders aboard. Nine riders sued in Multnomah County Circuit Court.
The suits are neither a class action nor an MDL. Oaks Park also sued the ride's manufacturer, Zamperla, in a separate claim.
Why Was the Oaks Amusement Park Lawsuit Filed?
The Oaks Amusement Park lawsuit was filed because riders say the AtmosFEAR ride stalled upside down for 25 minutes. The ride stopped on the park's first day of the 2024 summer season.
Riders hung about 50 feet above the ground. Portland Fire & Rescue crews worked with park staff to lower the ride by hand.
The first suit was filed on June 20, 2024, six days later. It says the park failed to maintain the ride and lacked tools to fix it quickly.
The Oaks Park Association said the ride had run without problems since it opened in 2021. A court filing later asked whether it had stalled on June 6.
What Harms Does the Oaks Amusement Park Lawsuit Allege?
The Oaks Amusement Park lawsuit alleges four distinct harms: negligence, failure to warn, physical injury and emotional distress. The complaints plead them together as one negligence case.
Each rider's complaint states injuries in its own terms. The first complaint sought up to $125,000, and later complaints sought $345,000 or more.
Negligence
Negligence is a legal claim that someone failed to use reasonable care and that the failure caused harm.
The complaints accuse Oaks Park of failing to maintain and operate the ride safely. They say the park lacked the tools to repair it quickly.
The family of Evie Yannotta added that the park had no plan for lowering the ride. Oaks Park later said the ride should not have become stuck.
Failure to Warn
Failure to warn is a legal claim that a business did not tell customers about a known or likely danger.
The complaints say Oaks Park did not adequately warn riders of the ride's dangers. They also say it did not keep riders informed while they were stuck.
The reporting reviewed did not break the verdict down by count.
Physical Injury
A physical injury claim is a legal request for money to cover bodily harm that someone else's conduct caused.
The first complaint lists abrasions, soreness, body aches, dizziness, and a higher heart rate and blood pressure. Other reports describe bruising from the harnesses.
The Gomez-Salais complaint alleges chest pain, weakness and insomnia. Coverage reported no major injuries on the day.
Emotional Distress
Emotional distress is a legal claim for lasting fear, anxiety or trauma that someone else's conduct caused.
The complaints allege ongoing post-traumatic stress and anxiety. One filing describes terror, fear of heights and interference with normal activities.
The plaintiffs' lawyer said the teens needed counseling, treatment and medication. One teen testified that lingering injuries kept her from martial arts tournaments, BroBible reported.
What Is the Current Status of the Oaks Amusement Park Lawsuit?
The current status of the Oaks Amusement Park lawsuit is a completed jury trial, with seven other rider claims settled. The park's separate claims against Zamperla remain a distinct track.
Rider Suits Against Oaks Park
Nine riders sued the Oaks Park Association in Multnomah County Circuit Court. The trial of Xitlali Gomez-Salais and Evie Yannotta was the first, and it ended on August 19, 2026.
Seven other riders reached settlements before that trial. The coverage reviewed did not name the judge or give any docket number.
| Court | Multnomah County Circuit Court, Oregon |
| Judge | Not identified in the coverage reviewed |
| Case numbers | Not identified in the coverage reviewed |
| Defendant | Oaks Park Association, operator of Oaks Amusement Park |
| Riders who sued | Nine, per reporting in August 2026 |
| Trial plaintiffs | Xitlali Gomez-Salais and Evie Yannotta, 13 and 14 at the time |
| Plaintiffs' lawyer at trial | Michael Fuller of OlsenDaines |
| Outcome | Jury verdict on August 19, 2026; seven other riders settled |
Oaks Park Claims Against Zamperla
Oaks Park sued Zamperla in September 2024, saying the manufacturer was negligent and responsible for the malfunction. KATU later described Zamperla as a third-party defendant in the rider cases.
The riders' lawyer said both defendants denied liability for over two years and admitted fault about a week before trial.
| Claimant | Oaks Park Association |
| Defendant | Zamperla, the ride's manufacturer |
| Filed | Reported on September 20, 2024 |
| Claim | Zamperla was negligent, failed to keep the ride safe, and gave the park no tool to lower it |
| Zamperla's stated position | The manufacturer's inspection found no mechanical, technical or maintenance issues in June 2024 |
| Payment split | Insurers for Oaks Park and Zamperla were to settle the split of the $550,000 between themselves |
How Much Did the Jury Award in the Oaks Amusement Park Lawsuit?
The jury award in the Oaks Amusement Park lawsuit was $275,000 for each of two teenage riders, $550,000 in all. The Multnomah County jury voted 10-2.
That award covers only the first trial. The seven riders who settled agreed to confidential amounts, so no total payout exists for the whole litigation.
The riders' lawyer said the insurers for Oaks Park and Zamperla would sort out who pays the $550,000. The coverage reviewed did not say whether either side appealed.
The original complaints left the amount to the jury. The first sought up to $125,000, and the Gomez-Salais complaint sought up to $345,000. The Oregonian reported the riders asked the jury for $2 million.
Kafoury & McDougal asked for $1 million per plaintiff before its three clients settled for a confidential sum. Past awards or settlements say nothing certain about any other claim.
Latest Oaks Amusement Park Lawsuit Updates
The latest Oaks Amusement Park lawsuit updates and news, including new filings, rulings, and case-count reports, are tracked below as they're confirmed. Litigation in the Oaks Amusement Park rider suits remain active as of October 2026, with no bellwether trial or settlement completed. The timeline below tracks every confirmed development from the first filing forward.
Full Oaks Amusement Park Lawsuit Timeline
Jury Awards $275,000 to Each of Two Teen Riders
A Multnomah County jury voted 10-2 on August 19, 2026 to award two teen riders $275,000 each. The verdict was the first from the AtmosFEAR cases, and seven other riders had settled.
Three Guardians Sue Oaks Park for $1.95 Million
Three guardians of 14-year-old riders sued Oaks Park in Multnomah County on May 14, 2025, seeking $650,000 each. Willamette Week reported the filing raised the number of suing families to at least six.
Oaks Park Sues Ride Maker Zamperla
Reports published on September 20, 2024 said the Oaks Park Association had sued Zamperla over the AtmosFEAR malfunction. The park called the manufacturer negligent and said it supplied no tool for lowering a stuck ride.
Teen's Suit Alleges Ongoing Post-Traumatic Stress
A Multnomah County suit reported on July 24, 2024 alleged that a teenage AtmosFEAR rider has post-traumatic stress and anxiety. Lawyer Michael Fuller said he knew of no earlier major amusement park suits in Oregon.
Solano Family Files for $345,000
Glennda Solano and her 13-year-old daughter sued Oaks Park in Multnomah County on July 23, 2024, seeking $345,000. Willamette Week reported that attorney Michael Fuller had then filed three similar suits for the same amount.
AtmosFEAR Reopens With Shorter Swing Options
The AtmosFEAR reopened around June 25, 2024 after the manufacturer reported finding no mechanical, technical or maintenance issues. Oaks Park suspended the 360-degree mode and offered 180-degree and 260-degree rides instead.
Court Filing Asks About a June 6 Malfunction
A filing in Yannotta's Multnomah County case asked Oaks Park to admit or deny that students were trapped June 6. It named Otto Petersen Elementary, and the park declined to comment on active litigation.
First AtmosFEAR Lawsuit Filed Against Oaks Park
Amy Yannotta sued the Oaks Park Association on June 20, 2024 for her 14-year-old daughter Evie, seeking up to $125,000. The negligence complaint says riders screamed and prayed during the 25 minutes upside down.
AtmosFEAR Stalls Upside Down With 28 Riders
The AtmosFEAR pendulum ride stopped upside down at Oaks Amusement Park on June 14, 2024, with 28 riders aboard. They hung for about 25 minutes. Portland Fire & Rescue crews helped lower the ride, and no major injuries were reported.
Students Report an Earlier Ride Problem
Two middle schoolers and a parent told Willamette Week the AtmosFEAR also malfunctioned June 6, 2024, less dramatically. Oaks Park declined to comment on that account.
What Did Oaks Park and Zamperla Allegedly Know About the AtmosFEAR Ride?
The coverage reviewed shows no claim that Oaks Park and Zamperla knew the AtmosFEAR ride would fail. A June 23, 2024 filing asked Oaks Park whether the ride stalled on June 6. The park declined to discuss it.
The suits say the park had no tool and no plan for lowering a stuck ride. Oaks Park says Zamperla never supplied such a tool. Zamperla's stated position is that its inspection found no mechanical, technical or maintenance issues.
The family of Evie Yannotta said the cause of the malfunction is still unknown. The park has since added a feature that returns the ride to its home position.
| Party | Role | Allegation or stated position |
|---|---|---|
| Oaks Park Association | Operates Oaks Amusement Park | Accused of negligent maintenance and operation, failure to warn, and no way to lower the ride quickly |
| Zamperla | Manufactured and installed the AtmosFEAR | Accused by Oaks Park of negligence; reported no mechanical, technical or maintenance issues after inspection |
| Both defendants | Defendant and third-party defendant | Admitted that one or both were at fault about a week before trial, per the riders' lawyer |
How Does the Oaks Amusement Park Lawsuit Compare to Related Cases?
The Oaks Amusement Park lawsuit differs from its related proceedings because each one involves a different party or outcome. All of them trace back to the same June 14, 2024 malfunction.
| Proceeding | Parties | Outcome as of October 25, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Gomez-Salais and Yannotta trial | Two teen riders v. Oaks Park, with Zamperla as third-party defendant | Jury verdict entered |
| Settled rider suits | Seven other riders v. Oaks Park | Settled for undisclosed amounts |
| Oaks Park v. Zamperla | Park v. ride manufacturer | No outcome reported in the coverage reviewed |
Kafoury & McDougal said more than a dozen minors from the ride had not filed suit. The coverage reviewed did not say whether any have since done so.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Oaks Amusement Park lawsuit about?
The Oaks Amusement Park lawsuit is about the June 14, 2024 AtmosFEAR malfunction that left 28 riders upside down. They hung for about 25 minutes, and riders sued the Oaks Park Association for negligence and failure to warn.
Is the Oaks Amusement Park lawsuit a class action or an MDL?
The Oaks Amusement Park lawsuit is neither a class action nor an MDL. Nine riders brought separate suits in Multnomah County Circuit Court, and the first trial covered two of them.
How much did the jury award in the Oaks Amusement Park lawsuit?
The jury award in the Oaks Amusement Park lawsuit was $275,000 for each of two teen riders. Seven other riders settled for undisclosed amounts.
Who has to pay the Oaks Amusement Park lawsuit verdict?
The Oaks Amusement Park lawsuit verdict was entered against Oaks Park and Zamperla. The riders' lawyer said their insurers would decide how to split the payment.
Did Oaks Park admit fault in the AtmosFEAR lawsuit?
Oaks Park admitted that it or Zamperla was at fault, according to the riders' lawyer, about a week before trial. The park's statement says the ride should not have become stuck.
Why did Oaks Park sue Zamperla over the AtmosFEAR?
Oaks Park sued Zamperla because it says the manufacturer was negligent and responsible for the AtmosFEAR malfunction. The park says Zamperla supplied no tool to lower a stuck ride.
Is the AtmosFEAR ride still open after the lawsuit?
The AtmosFEAR reopened around June 25, 2024 with its 360-degree mode suspended. The park has since added a feature that returns the ride to its home position if it sticks.