recorded as the ride's designer, that company was actually an affiliate of RCCA. The primary structural engineer was Wooden Structures Inc. of Georgia, while the lumber was manufactured by Universal Forest Products of Hamilton, Ohio. Problems plagued the ride from the beginning and, as a result, Paramount Parks, the park's then-owner, fired RCCA before construction was completed. The park had to make several design corrections during Son of Beast's initial year. On January 11, 2000, a portion of the ride was damaged due to a strong gust of wind. It was later revealed that the second hill had collapsed by itself. The wooden structure was being held in place by a temporary ribbon support system and had been constructed only a day earlier. The ride was planned to open on April 14, 2000, but construction was halted due to rainy weather. As a result, the coaster's opening had to be delayed. In addition, in February 2000, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined Paramount $110,000 after discovering 18 safety violations, including 11 that were deemed "serious", during two inspections. Operation Son of Beast originally opened to the public on April 28, 2000. The day after the ride opened, officials discovered defects in a section of track. Son of Beast closed for repair work soon afterward, undergoing three weeks of repairs. It then reopened on May 26, 2000. From the start, Son of Beast had a reputation for being rough. Passengers were being jerked around during the ride experience. This issue was said to be caused by structural issues. The only smooth path of the ride was the vertical loop. The ride originally operated with three trains designed by Premier Rides; each consisted of six cars for a total capacity of thirty-six. Kings Island filed a lawsuit in November 2000 against three companies involved in the design and manufacture of the roller coaster, claiming defects that delayed the initial opening and resulted in multiple closures. In 2005, a federal court ruled that the Roller Coaster Company of Ohio's insurer, Admiral Insurance, had to pay Kings Island $20 million in damages in relation to the lawsuit. However, the ruling was overturned by an appeals court in 2008. The trains were shortened to five cars before the 2006 season. The ride experienced its first major incident on July 9, 2006, during which 27 passengers were sent to the hospital following a derailment. The