LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- A judge has ruled that two teenagers can join a lawsuit against Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom involving an accident last summer that severed a girl's feet at the amusement park.

  Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Barry Willett ruled Friday that Blair Johnson and Arin Valsted, both of Louisville, may join the case filed by the parents of 14-year-old Kaitlyn Lasitter.

  The Courier-Journal reported on its web site that Willett denied a request from the parents of the two teens to join the suit in connection with the accident June 21, 2007.

  The parents were seeking damages for emotional distress and travel expenses for providing for their children's care. But Willett said state law does not allow the parents to sue in this case.

  An attorney for Johnson and Valsted said the teens, who were riding with Lasitter when the ride malfunctioned, suffered cuts and bruises and have required ongoing psychological counseling.

  Attorneys have until Sept. 1 to respond to the judge's ruling.

  Lasitter's feet were cut off above the ankles when a cable broke on the Superman Tower of Power ride. Doctors reattached her right foot, but she had to have some of her left leg amputated and subsequent surgeries.

  The ride has been dismantled. State officials blamed a faulty cable and slow response by an amusement park ride operator in the accident.

  A Jan. 5, 2010 trial date has been set in the case.

  (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

The lawsuit has been pending for more than a year. Attorneys for both the Lasitters and Six Flags agreed that the pretrial work is moving along smoothly.

  More than 15,000 pages of documents have been exchanged and the ride has been examined by experts five times, said Jennifer Barbour, an attorney for the Lasitters, who were not in court Wednesday.

  John Hanley, who represents Six Flags, said there are 77 more depositions to take -- 35 by the Lasitters and 42 by the amusement park. Six Flags may also seek to add a defendant to the case, Hanley said, declining to say who he was speaking of.

  "There's a lot of work left to be done," Hanley said.

  A Kentucky Department of Agriculture report released in May placed blame for the accident on a faulty cable and slow response by an amusement park ride operator.

  (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

Its sad that it has taken Katie's accident to show it, but its true its time amusement parks regulations should be made more strict.

I think the incident involving Katie Lasitter, just goes to show that park regulations should be more strict.First off, anytime you are running a major theme park you should have to inspect your rides more than once a year and have to take care of them the way you are told to do so.Its just sad it it is taking Katie to lose her feet to show this. This is no ones fault except the parks.My heart and prayers go out to Katie for being so brave throughout all this. I hope they win the court date and the court pays for Katie, so that she is covered for the rest of her life and then some. She DESERVES that much.

Skrew anyone who thinks it should not be more strict, i mean come on OUR KIDS ARE AT RISK yes yes yes i get it WE ALL GET IT anything could happen you could be lying in bed and your roof could randomly fall in, that isnt the point. WE SHOULD BE ASSURED OUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE. MAKE IT MORE STRICT, WHATEVER IT TAKES.
HOORAY FOR KAITLYN AND HER FAMILY, YOU GUYS ARE WHAT AMERICAN HEROS ARE ALL ABOUT !

My grandson rode the superman ride about 4 times
a week before the little girl was injured. My heart goes out to her and her family. I am a leary of rides of this nature. I don't understand why the judge is holding up the trial.

People should not have to pay with money and body parts at amussment parks!!! Get real do the math!!!

To the person that said to stop whinning. Maybe next time it will be YOUR child, or YOU !!!

everyone just stop whining! things happen and it was an accident

The young girl was one thing , the guy jumping the fence was his own judgment . Its no differnt than if someone crosses the expressway . Common sence tells you that you could be struck by a car . If someone runs across the expressway and gets killed , are you going to add driving restrictions ,no . Its too bad he lost his life , but come on . If he was 6 or 7 I could see a case but you don't hear of little children getting into restricted areas . The world needs to stop looking for a paycheck for everything that goes wrong . Thats whats wrong with our economy .

i dont think they inspect these places enough every amusement park ive been to also has kids controlling the rides that is not safe. ive even been to amusement parks that have hired convicted child molesters so needlessly to say i wont go anywhere near any of those type of parks i care to much for my kids than that.

I think the amusement parks needs to hire more qualified ride mechanics. The maintenance of the rides should solely fall on the amusement park. What would be any diffrent if you buy a new automobile and the tires wear out and you have a blow out and kill someone. Are you going to sue the auto maker or tire manaufacter, because of your lack of maintenance.

If companys are going to make these rides then they should have to pay the consaquence for the damage. That is the problem today nothing is made SAFE any more,,So YES make the park regulations more STRICK then we might be a little safer in this world.

anything to ensure the safety or our children.

OK first I like to say my heart goes out to this family and their friends for this tragic accident, I feel that amusement parks should check the rides more carefully i also belive that no one under the age of 18 should be controlling these rides, however i do belive that each time anyone gets on a amusement ride they are taking a chance of something happening thats the whole adrenaline rush right? most people get. I know that still dont justify anything but thats just my opinnion... I have rode the superman tower several times and really i loved it you get one heck of a rush but this accident could have more then likley been prevented by six flags staff if they had actually checked each cable before the start of each ride. to the family iam so sorry i couldnt imgine

Safety should be the number one concern of all businesses that cater to children.

Just imagine if this was your child that was going through what Kaitlyn and her family are dealing with. Safety should be the #1 priorty of amusement parks, regardless of cost. You people who think they should not be more strict are sick!

It's the condition of the equipment that I am concerned about. Obviously in the girls case, the park should most definitely be responsible. I have two grandsons who go often. Believe me, I'm glad to be a praying grandparent.

you can charge anyone for anything at anytime bt the question is weather ull win the case or not...in this case.....the family wont

I agree with the people that are saying that humans, and especially parents, need to become accountable for their actions. And, yes, in saying this, I DO have children of my own. I also used to work at Six Flags, and parents buy their teenagers season passes, and then drop them at the gate, like it as a free babysitting service. Folks, this is supposed to be a family place, not a babysitting service. And I am talking 12 and 13 year old kids being dumped at the gate, not just older teens. So please, let's keep a reality check. Yes, I also feel very badly for the family for their tragic loss. But come on, face reality. He was old enough to know better, and unless he had a mental condition to prevent him from understanding right from wrong, then he made a really stupid choice. If he was mentally incapable, then mom and dad definitely should have been beside him, guiding his actions. Don't fault the park for one kid's irresponsible action, no matter what the tragic outcome.

No, I don't think they need to be more strict. People need to use some common sense and learn to read.

There are signs all over the fences that say Restricted Area, Do Not Enter. The reason fences are put up are to Restrict anyone from going in that area. Anyone should know that climbing a fence with a Restricted Area sign knows that is not a good idea.

Do you think amusement park regulations should be made more strict?