In September 2025, a Garfield County, Colorado, jury awarded $205 million to the family of 6-year-old Wongel Estifanos, who died after falling from the Haunted Mine Drop ride at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in 2021. The verdict is the largest of its kind in state history, sending shockwaves through both the amusement industry and the broader field of personal injury litigation (AP News).
Case Background
Wongel tragically fell more than 100 feet after park operators failed to properly secure her with seat belts. Investigators determined that she was sitting on top of the restraints, and the operators—both new and inadequately trained—did not recognize the problem before starting the ride. Even worse, the ride’s system issued an alarm indicating a restraint issue, but an operator reset the system and launched the ride anyway (Denver7).
The jury assigned liability not only to the park but also to Soaring Eagle, Inc., the ride manufacturer, and the individual operators. The breakdown of damages included approximately $82 million in compensatory damages and a staggering $123 million in punitive damages (People).
Why Waivers Failed
One of the most striking aspects of this case is the erosion of reliance on liability waivers. For decades, parks and recreational venues leaned on broad waivers to protect against lawsuits. But in this verdict, jurors effectively rejected the notion that a signed waiver could shield a park from responsibility in the face of gross negligence and ignored safety systems (Colorado Sun).
This is part of a broader trend: courts and juries are increasingly unwilling to let businesses hide behind waivers when a child’s death or catastrophic injury could have been prevented with reasonable precautions.
National Ripple Effects
This case has national implications that extend well beyond Colorado:
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Punitive Damages Are Back in Play: With $123 million in punitive damages upheld, plaintiffs across the U.S. are likely to push harder for punitive awards in negligence cases involving reckless disregard for safety.
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Training and Protocols Under Scrutiny: Plaintiff attorneys will probe training manuals, alarm system logs, and operator protocols more aggressively. This verdict reinforces that inadequate training can create corporate liability, not just “operator error.”
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Recreational Industries on Notice: Ski resorts, waterparks, zip lines, and fairs all face similar liability structures. The same arguments about defective design, poor training, and waiver enforceability could apply.
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Settlement Pressure Will Increase: Facing the risk of “nuclear verdicts,” many defendants may settle earlier and at higher amounts to avoid catastrophic jury awards.
Cases like the death of Tyre Sampson in Florida, where a jury awarded $310 million in 2024 after a teenager fell from an amusement ride, highlight that this trend is not isolated (The Guardian). Together, these verdicts signal a seismic shift in how U.S. juries evaluate corporate responsibility for preventable tragedies.
Why Victims Need an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
When verdicts of this magnitude are possible, hiring a skilled personal injury lawyer is no longer optional—it is essential. Here’s why:
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Challenging Waivers: Attorneys know how to undermine overly broad or unfair liability waivers, especially where children or gross negligence are involved.
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Proving Punitive Conduct: Plaintiffs must show more than negligence—they must prove reckless disregard. An experienced lawyer can frame evidence persuasively to meet this standard.
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Handling Complex Evidence: Engineering reports, alarm system logs, and training records require technical expertise. A knowledgeable attorney can secure the right expert witnesses and build a compelling case.
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Negotiation Leverage: Defendants will take settlement talks more seriously when facing a well-prepared plaintiff represented by a respected firm.
For families dealing with catastrophic injury or wrongful death, the stakes could not be higher. As cases like Wongel Estifanos’s show, the right representation can mean the difference between an inadequate settlement and a life-changing verdict.
Final Thought
Verdicts like this are reshaping how courts, insurers, and corporations think about safety, accountability, and liability waivers. Families facing similar tragedies across the United States should understand their rights and seek legal counsel immediately. That’s where a dedicated team such as The Rodd Firm in Georgia can provide the guidance and advocacy needed to fight for justice and ensure accountability.