Six Flags X2 Coaster Faces 3 Lawsuits Over Brain Injuries; 100+ Riders Come Forward

Three lawsuits filed this week allege riders suffered catastrophic brain injuries on the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. Attorneys say more than 100 people have come forward in the past two months reporting brain damage after riding the coaster in the last two years. The ride has been closed since July 12 following two hospitalizations just six days apart.

What happened to the riders

Pamela Guillen, 40, visited the park on July 5 for her daughter’s 16th birthday. After riding X2, she collapsed and was rushed to the hospital for emergency brain surgery to stop bleeding. She spent nearly a month hospitalized and had to relearn how to walk and talk. Six days later, Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, 25, rode the same coaster and suffered a similar catastrophic brain injury. Her parents report she still requires breathing assistance and has not returned home.

The scale of injuries and legal action

Michael Wick, another plaintiff, has undergone two brain surgeries and is now unable to practice law due to disability. Attorney Gary Dordick’s firm filed three lawsuits on September 23 and plans to file additional suits on behalf of more than 100 clients who allege brain injuries from X2 in the past two years. The lawsuits accuse Six Flags and manufacturer S&S Worldwide of operating a defectively designed ride and failing to warn riders of serious brain injury risks.

Design flaws dating back 24 years

The X2 opened in January 2002 as the world’s first fourth-dimension roller coaster, featuring 360-degree rotating seats, a 215-foot drop, and speeds up to 76 miles per hour. Court documents allege the ride had design problems from the start. The coaster was plagued with problems over the years and closed several times for redesigns. A CNN investigation last month documented more than a dozen reports of serious injuries and hospitalizations, including at least two deaths.

Stock impact and company response

Six Flags Entertainment (FUN) shares fell 0.6% to $12.43 on September 23 as the lawsuits were announced. The company’s Meyka grade stands at B with a 12-month forecast of $5.72, suggesting significant downside risk. Six Flags declined to comment, citing its policy not to discuss pending litigation. The ride remains closed and the company faces potential operational and financial consequences from the mounting legal claims.

Final Thoughts

The X2 lawsuits expose Six Flags to substantial liability. With Meyka grading FUN a B and forecasting $5.72 per share against the current $12.43 price, litigation risk compounds existing operational challenges for the amusement operator.

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