Overview

• The Garfield County verdict assigns liability to Glenwood Caverns, ride maker Soaring Eagle, and two operators, with the park responsible for most of the payment.
• Jurors awarded $82 million in non-economic damages and $123 million in punitive damages to the parents of 6-year-old Wongel Estifanos.
• State investigators concluded the child was seated atop still-buckled seat belts, an alarm flagged the problem, and a worker reset the system due to inadequate training.
• Glenwood Caverns alleges Soaring Eagle provided a defective restraint system and hid prior ejections, and the park says the award endangers its survival and local jobs.
• Prosecutors earlier declined criminal charges, and the park says it worked with independent engineers to redesign the attraction after the 2021 incident.