Universal, ride builder settle suit
Dynamic Motions Rides sued for breach of contract; settlement terms confidential
Universal Orlando and a company that helped make its “Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon” ride have settled a breach of contract lawsuit over the ride’s development, court records show.
Austrian ride manufacturer Dynamic Motion Rides GmbH, known as DyMoRides, sued Universal in March 2021 alleging the company violated their April 2014 contract by making multiple changes during the ride’s development, lengthening timelines and adding additional work, while claiming DyMoRides was not completing its work on time.
Universal terminated DyMoRide’s contract in October 2015 for failing to stick to the schedule and “failure to comply with written directions,” records show. DyMoRides’ suit alleged Universal contracted with another company to finish the attraction but kept using its proprietary “Flyboard” ride technology without a license.
DyMoRides sought an unspecified amount in damages but claimed Universal still owed it more than $5 million for its work, plus compensation for using its patents.
Universal denied the company’s claims in court and countersued in August 2022, saying DyMoRides breached the contract. Among other claims, Universal said it “experienced problems with [DyMoRide’s] design performance” and the company’s work had “significant deficiencies” and was submitted late.
Universal said it spent an additional $10 million to finish the attraction because of DyMoRides and sought at least that amount in damages, records show. In its rebuttal of DyMoRides’ allegations, Universal said it did not infringe on DyMoRide’s patents and the companies’ agreement gave it a “perpetual, irrevocable” license to DyMoRide’s technology.
The case was closed in federal district court March 30 after both parties filed a joint notice to settle. The documents do not show the confidential settlement’s terms.
Universal and Clay Townsend, an attorney representing Dynamic Motion Rides and Dynamic Motion Group, declined to comment this week.
“Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon” seats guests on a moving platform in front of a screen that shows a go-kart race through the set of “The Tonight Show,” New York City landmarks and outer space. It opened at the resort’s Universal Studios Florida theme park in April 2017.
Universal and DyMoRides began working together in 2013 for a similar ride that was canceled but reconnected in 2014 for a project that would become the Jimmy Fallon attraction, according to court documents.
DyMoRides also initially sued Utah-based steel fabricator Petersen Inc., naming it as the ride manufacturer Universal appointed to replace DyMoRides. The court dropped claims against Petersen in May 2022, records show.