A Los Angeles attorney who took his grandchildren to Six Flags Magic Mountain to create family memories says he is no longer able to practice law after suffering a catastrophic brain injury on the park’s notorious X2 roller coaster, according to a newly filed lawsuit.
Michael Wilk, an attorney with decades of experience, visited the Valencia amusement park with his daughter and grandchildren in February, intending to enjoy its many thrill rides, including X2, the lawsuit says.
The family outing allegedly became a medical emergency when Wilk’s head struck the ride’s headrest with extreme force. X2 features seats that rotate 360 degrees while riders descend head-first and face-down.
After leaving the coaster, Wilk reportedly felt sick and experienced a stabbing headache, dizziness and difficulty walking, according to the complaint.
When he returned to work, colleagues allegedly observed a continuing decline in his cognitive abilities. They became so concerned that they urged him to seek medical attention, the lawsuit claims.
An MRI performed on June 4 showed massive intracranial bleeding and swelling, along with a midline shift in Wilk’s brain, according to court documents.
He immediately underwent an emergency embolization procedure, but the treatment did not stop the bleeding, the lawsuit says.
The complaint alleges that the MRI indicated the bleeding had been present for months and was consistent with an injury Wilk suffered in February.
Wilk later underwent two separate craniotomies to relieve the bleeding. He continues to experience ”debilitating headaches, confusion, dizziness, memory loss, and personality changes,” according to the lawsuit.
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The attorney is now unable to practice law and has suffered ”permanent cognitive impairment,” the complaint alleges.
The lawsuit also cites at least a dozen other people who allegedly suffered injuries after riding X2. Among them was 22-year-old Christopher Hawley, who experienced catastrophic brain bleeding after riding the coaster in June 2022 and died the next day.
Hawley, a San Diego State University graduate, had trouble walking after exiting X2 before collapsing and losing consciousness, according to a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by his family.
His parents reached an undisclosed settlement with Magic Mountain and the supplier of replacement trains for X2 in August.
X2 has been closed since July as Cal/OSHA investigates a separate incident involving the ride.
The roller coaster opened in 2002 under the name X before being relaunched as X2. It has since been the subject of several lawsuits alleging serious brain injuries.
Six Flags was contacted for comment.
The park has promoted X2 as ”A rite of passage for the ultimate daredevil,” saying the extreme coaster will leave ”even the most hardened thrill seeker screaming.”
Wilk is seeking damages for medical expenses, as well as past and future lost earnings.