Man injured on roller coaster ride re-files lawsuit against Kings Island

LEBANON, Ohio - A wild ride at Kings Island nearly five years ago is resulting in a lawsuit going to trial on Monday in a Warren County courtroom. The lawsuit was filed by one of the passengers on the Son of Beast roller coaster ride in July 2006 that injured 27 people.

Jonathon Yanik suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery. He initially filed the lawsuit in 2006, but had it dismissed while he recovered from the medical procedures. He has re-filed the suit and is asking for close to $1 million in damages for his injuries.

The wooden coaster featured a one-of-a-kind loop on the ride. On that day in 2006, investigators say a faulty support on the ride was to blame for a major jolt riders felt. Many suffered neck, head or shoulder injuries. The majority of the lawsuits filed settled out of court, but the case of Yanik is going to trial.

The now 21-year-old is asking for $500,000 in compensatory damages and more than $350,000 in punitive damages. 

An engineer is on the witness list to testify for the lawsuit trial. The forensic engineer is expected to testify that Kings Island was negligent and put passengers at risk by allowing them to ride the roller coaster.

The trial begins on Monday morning and is expected to last three days.