PHILADELPHIA — The family of Abiah Jones, the 11-year old Pleasantville student who was killed in a fall from the Giant Wheel at Morey’s Pier on June 3 has filed a lawsuit against the Morey Organization.
The suit, which was filed in Philadelphia, does not specify monetary damages.
“The facts of the complaint speak for themselves,” said Jeffrey Reiff, an attorney with the Beasley Firm, the Philadelphia law firm that is handling the suit.
Jones, an honor student at PleasanTech Academy, was visiting Morey’s Pier as part of a school field trip rewarding students for their academic accomplishments. She was riding alone in the gondola when the accident occurred.
An investigation done by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) stated that there was no mechanical malfunction with the ride; however it is possible that a “patron either kneeling or standing on the seat could fall from the ride if they lost their balance, chose to leave the vehicle, or simply leaned too far out of the ride.”
Since the accident the DCA has required any rider in an open gondola Ferris wheel to be a minimum of 54 inches tall and there be a minimum of two riders per gondola.
“Profitability should never take precedence over safety,” said Reiff.
As of press time the Morey Organization had not issued a comment in response to the lawsuit.
Lower Township – I wish when people are putting kids on the bus for other parents who can't, they would learn to control them a little better. Kids aren't supposed to jump and climb on people's fences…
