Lawsuit Filed After 13-Year-Old Boy Killed on Carnival Ride in Montana

A 13-year-old boy was killed after being thrown from a Yo Yo carnival ride in Montana last month, according to a lawsuit. The lawsuit claims that carnival workers operated the ride despite missing safety restraints and failed to follow safety protocols. The estate of Clayton Phillips alleges that Midway West Amusements, the ride operator, was aware that at least 10 chairs lacked pelvic safety belts and connectors. Instead of repairing the ride, the company relied on employee memory to keep those chairs vacant. The lawsuit states that improperly trained employees placed Phillips in an unsafe chair during the carnival in Butte. It alleges that Phillips was ejected from the ride, which is designed to swing outward and elevate passengers as it rotates. He died from his injuries two weeks later. The lawsuit names several defendants, including the government of Butte-Silver Bow, Midway West Amusements, and ride inspection company Shady Acres Safety Services. The family is seeking unspecified damages for lost future earnings, medical expenses, and other costs.