A former Springboro resident received an undisclosed settlement from Kings Island as a result of a 2006 accident on the Son of Beast rollercoaster where she and 26 other riders suffered injuries.
Jennifer Wright, a 1988 Springboro High School graduate, received the settlement after a Warren County Common Pleas Court jury awarded her $76,364 in compensatory damages on Monday.
The settlement agreement between the attorneys for Kings Island and Wright was reached before the punitive damage phase of the trial began.
"My biggest hope now is the public will be aware of the issues with the Son of Beast and that that situation will be rectified so nobody else has to suffer ever. That was my biggest concern from day one because it just wasn't a minute on a ride and some pain. It's been three years of agony," Wright said.
The jury of four men and four women voted 7-1 to award Wright $56,000 for pain and suffering and $20,364 for medical expenses she incurred as a result of the accident.
It took the jury more than five hours to reach its verdict.
Wright and 26 other riders were injured July 9, 2006 after receiving a jolt on the ride as a result of a portion of the track that had separated from the platform due to a support beam failure.
Wright, of Defiance, stated she suffered a small fracture in her hip and a tear of cartilidge around the hip joint.
Her attorney, John Scaccia, told the jury because of the injury, Wright could need up to three hip replacements in her lifetime.
Chip Finke, representing Kings Island, agreed that Wright was entitled to reasonable compensation for her injuries, but nothing more.
In testimony on Friday, Dr. Joe Paley, a semi-retired orthopedic surgeon, stated that Wright, 39, is in need of a hip replacement, but advised against the procedure until she reaches the age of 50.
Paley said because the artificial hip only lasts approximately 15 years, she will more than likely need two or more in her life time.
Dr. Paul Hogya, an ex-emergency room doctor who has experience in related trauma cases, disagreed with Paley.
Hogya stated after examining Wright's case, he didn't believe Wright was a candidate for a hip replacement.
Finke also tried to disclaim the seriousness of Wright's hip injury by showing the jury a video tape of Wright peforming such acitivies as lifting her son into the car and carrying a box of groceries.
In closing arguments, Finke told the jury that there was no doubt Wright suffered some injuries after the accident. He also stated that the symptoms Wright demonstrated were consistent with a sprain or a strain.
"What those records show is that Ms. Wright strained or sprained her hip and her lower back on the Son of Beast. That was her injury. The records consistently showed no fracture," Finke said.
Finke also stated that Kings Island accepted responsibility for the accident and that the Cincinnati amusement park was willing to compenstate Wright "up to the 2006 medical bills."
Finke questioned why Wright didn't seek treatment for an injury in 2008 he believes was caused by a fall at work.
'She hasn't had any treatment since September of 2006," Finke said. "There's been lots of tests which runs up the medical expenses, but she hasn't done anything about it as a result of the tests."
Scaccia, in his closing arguments, stated Wright was experiencing the same problems in 2008 she encountered as a result of the accident in 2006.
"You don't get any injury like this from a simple slip and fall. We're talking about the same stuff where she left off in September of 2006." Scaccia said.
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