By Samantha Paul Two teenagers who were trapped upside down on the AtmosFEAR ride at Oaks Amusement Park in Portland, Oregon, have won a combined $550,000 jury verdict after a frightening 2024 malfunction left riders suspended for about 25 minutes.
On August 19, 2026, a Multnomah County Circuit Court jury awarded Evie Yannotta and Xitlali Gomez-Salais $275,000 each. The verdict followed a civil trial involving allegations that Oaks Amusement Park and ride manufacturer Zamperla were responsible for the incident and the physical and psychological injuries that followed.
The two girls were 14 and 13 years old when the ride malfunctioned. Both are now 16.
What Happened at Oaks Amusement Park?
The incident occurred on June 14, 2024, at Oaks Amusement Park in Portland.
AtmosFEAR is a large pendulum-style thrill ride capable of completing a 360-degree rotation. During one of its cycles, the ride stopped while passengers were upside down.
Twenty-eight riders were left suspended for approximately 25 minutes before emergency responders and park personnel were able to bring the ride down.
Portland Fire & Rescue responded to the scene and worked with park staff to manually lower the stranded passengers.
Although authorities initially reported no major physical injuries, some riders later described headaches, bruising, soreness, blood rushing toward their heads and significant psychological distress.
Why Did Evie Yannotta Sue Oaks Park?
A lawsuit was filed on behalf of Evie Yannotta shortly after the incident.
The complaint accused Oaks Park of negligence and alleged that Yannotta experienced physical pain, bruising, soreness, dizziness and other problems after remaining inverted for an extended period.
The lawsuit also alleged lasting psychological injuries, including anxiety and post-traumatic stress.
Yannotta’s family argued that the emergency response made an already frightening incident worse. Her attorneys contended that the park did not have an adequate procedure or equipment immediately available to lower the ride after it became stuck.
The allegations eventually became part of broader litigation involving several riders affected by the AtmosFEAR malfunction.
Xitlali Gomez-Salais Also Takes Her Claim to Trial
Xitlali Gomez-Salais was another young rider trapped on AtmosFEAR.
Like Yannotta, Gomez-Salais alleged that the experience caused continuing emotional and psychological harm.
During the August 2026 trial, the teenagers described believing that their restraints could fail and that they might fall while suspended upside down.
Their claims ultimately proceeded to a jury instead of being resolved through private settlements.
What Did the Oaks Park Jury Decide?
The jury returned its verdict on August 19, 2026, following a trial that began August 17.
Jurors voted 10-2 in favor of awarding compensation to Yannotta and Gomez-Salais.
Each teenager received:
$275,000 in damages
That brought the combined verdict to:
$550,000
The girls had reportedly sought damages of as much as $2 million combined, meaning the jury awarded substantially less than the maximum amount requested.
The verdict nevertheless represented a significant victory because it recognized compensable harm arising from the ride malfunction and its consequences.
Were Oaks Park and Zamperla Both Involved?
Yes. Zamperla, the manufacturer of AtmosFEAR, became involved in the litigation in addition to Oaks Park.
Oaks Park brought claims against Zamperla as a third-party defendant as the cases developed.
The teenagers’ attorney, Michael Fuller, said shortly after the verdict that insurance companies for the park and manufacturer would determine how responsibility for paying the judgment would ultimately be divided.
Fuller also said the defense accepted responsibility shortly before trial after previously contesting liability.
What Injuries Did the Teenagers Claim?
The lawsuit was not based solely on the 25 minutes the riders spent trapped on the ride.
The teenagers alleged that the incident continued to affect them after they returned safely to the ground.
Reported problems included anxiety, post-traumatic stress, fear, physical discomfort and other symptoms connected with the prolonged period spent inverted.
Yannotta’s original complaint specifically alleged increased blood flow toward the brain, dizziness, soreness, bruising, elevated blood pressure and continuing anxiety and PTSD symptoms.
The jury therefore had to consider not only the ride malfunction itself but also the extent of the damages allegedly experienced afterward.
Did Other AtmosFEAR Riders File Lawsuits?
Yes. The August verdict represents only part of the litigation arising from the accident.
Nine affected riders reportedly pursued legal claims following the malfunction.
Seven of those claims were resolved through settlements for amounts that have not all been publicly disclosed.
Yannotta and Gomez-Salais were the two riders whose claims ultimately proceeded to the August 2026 jury verdict.
The court docket also reflects consolidated litigation involving multiple plaintiffs and Oaks Park’s third-party claims against Zamperla.
What Did Oaks Amusement Park Say After the Verdict?
Following the jury decision, Oaks Park said it agreed that the ride should not have become stuck and expressed relief that the passengers were safe.
The park said safety remained its priority and that it would continue working with ride manufacturers and state inspectors on rider safety.
After the original 2024 incident, AtmosFEAR underwent inspections before returning to operation. At that time, the park said inspections had not identified a mechanical, technical or maintenance problem responsible for the malfunction.
The precise technical cause of the original stoppage therefore was not publicly established simply by the initial post-incident inspections.
Current Status of the Oaks Amusement Park Lawsuit
As of August 29, 2026, the most important development is the completed jury trial involving Evie Yannotta and Xitlali Gomez-Salais.
The verdict stands at $275,000 for each teenager, for a combined award of $550,000.
The case demonstrates that amusement park litigation can involve more than obvious physical injuries. A jury may also consider psychological trauma, continuing anxiety, medical treatment and the terror experienced during an incident when deciding appropriate damages.
For Oaks Park, the verdict also closes a major part of the legal dispute resulting from the June 2024 AtmosFEAR malfunction, although questions involving insurers and allocation of responsibility between the park and manufacturer may continue separately.