the staff of the Ridgewood blog
East Rutherford NJ, the developers of the American Dream mall are taking five insurance companies to court over more than $20 million in losses they claim resulted from a decorative helicopter falling from the ceiling of the DreamWorks Water Park in February 2023.
In a lawsuit filed on May 29, Ameream, the developer behind American Dream, alleges that the insurers have underpaid damages, offering just $1.6 million instead of the $20.5 million the mall claims it is owed.
Incident at DreamWorks Water Park Sparks Legal Battle
The two-ton decorative helicopter fell onto guests at the indoor water park, prompting a shutdown of the facility for several days. While the exact cost breakdown wasn’t made public, the lawsuit claims losses from:
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Property damage
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Business interruption through August 2023
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Gross earnings losses
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Legal fees
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Claims preparation
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Other damages and expenses
It is still unclear whether the $20.5 million total includes potential injury claims from four guests who said they were harmed during the incident.
Insurers Accused of Underpayment
The five insurance companies named in the lawsuit are:
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The Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania
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Westport Insurance Corporation
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State National Insurance Company
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Zurich American Insurance Company
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Factory Mutual Insurance Company
According to the lawsuit, the insurers “arbitrarily reduced” recognized revenue and earnings losses. John Fazzio, the Hackensack-based attorney representing Ameream, stated:
“Their failure to honor the policies has left Ameream with tens of millions in uncovered losses.”
Representatives for the insurance companies have largely declined or failed to comment.
What Caused the Helicopter to Fall?
An investigation by New Jersey state officials concluded that damaged wiring securing the helicopter caused the fall. Notably, such decorative features are not subject to regular inspections once a building is approved for occupancy, per the Uniform Construction Code.
“There are no requirements for ongoing inspections of suspended themed features,” said Lisa Ryan, spokesperson for the NJ Department of Community Affairs.
The Amusement Ride Safety Unit, which inspects amusement rides statewide, confirmed the incident and oversaw the temporary closure of the water park.
Safety Concerns Over Other Hanging Decorations
Following the helicopter collapse, the DreamWorks Water Park had to evaluate additional hanging features:
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A tree branch display was repaired with new clamps.
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A penguin figurine was removed entirely after inspectors found its suspension cables too damaged to be safe.
Other prominent suspended characters—like Shrek and Kung Fu Panda—remain in place, though safety concerns linger among visitors.
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