Billy Elliot being sued for $4 million by injured theatre goers

[Anakela]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 1:05pm

Ok Billy Elliot fans, I've seen the show, but I don't remember a 'plastic crate,' what is this?

The women were both hit "right in the face" by a plastic crate that either slipped out of a dancer's hands or was accidentally kicked into the audience, said their lawyer, Steven Halperin.

The mishap occurred during a big dance number just before the curtain came down on the first act of the Nov. 23, 2009, performance.

Tourists sue over 'Billy' clubbing

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 1:30pm

I don't remember ever seeing a "plastic crate". It seems to imply that it happened during Angry Dance. Maybe one of the things the men ensemble carry or jump on it that number? They're more like boards though, not crates.

ETA: The milk crate is used during the riot. Updated On: 2/16/11 at 01:30 PM

[Dawn Davenport]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 1:39pm

I hate this litigious culture we live in. Those injuries warrant a payout of two mil EACH? WTF????

It would be understandable if they had been permanently disabled or something but this is just a pathetic money grab. Anything over medical expenses and covering loss of pay is sheer greed.

Man, I can only HOPE I get injured at "Company" in April. I wouldn't want money---I'd just want to meet NPH in person

[mybigsplash]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 1:42pm

I guess it depends on how much your face is worth to you. One of the women was permanently scarred. I certainly would not want to be scarred permanently on my face forever without warning.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 1:53pm

Be ready, we are going to accidentally cut your face! There's your warning!

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 1:58pm

Close it down! Close that death trap of a show down right now! An audience member got hurt!

WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN?!?!

[mybigsplash]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 1:59pm

I suppose if Billy Elliot producers approached me and said, "We might slash your face open, but if we do, we'll give you 4 million dollars." Then I'd go ahead and take that deal. I'm assuming the women are implying that they would not have taken that deal if it were less than 4 million dollars.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 2:15pm

"They certainly didn't go to the theater, sit in the first row and expect to assume the risk of getting clobbered in their seats," Halperin said"

Well, duh, of course not. But to say the producers were negligent is asinine. Accidents happen. If you can’t deal with that, then go live under a rock.

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 2:26pm

While permanent scarring is a serious issue, filing suit nearly 18 months after it happened suggests a publicity and money grab.

I think they're perfectly within their right to have their medical bills taken care of, but millions? No.

You could trip down the aisle on the way to your seat, hit the side of a chair and be permanently scarred that way just as easily as from a prop. I watched a guy fall down the mezzanine stairs and almost knock someone over into the orchestra at a performance of "White Christmas" a few years back and have yet to hear any legal rumblings about that. Like others have said, accidents unfortunately happen.

[p.s.]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 2:52pm

"They certainly didn't go to the theater, sit in the first row and expect to assume the risk of getting clobbered in their seats," Halperin said"

Well, duh, of course not. But to say the producers were negligent is asinine. Accidents happen. If you can’t deal with that, then go live under a rock.


I sat first row center at Spider-Man. Had I been injured, I'm pretty sure I would consider suing , even after (or especially after) all the prior accidents and incidents. [Settling is not an option, because people say if you settle then you may not ever get another job on Broadway.]


p.s. I'll actually be sitting first row at Billy tomorrow. Should I bring a rock to hide under?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 3:11pm

You would sue for MILLIONS?

Your rock isn't worth millions.

Updated On: 2/15/11 at 03:11 PM

[willep]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 3:12pm

Oh man. The producers "arranged a hazardous and dangerous choreography." That's right, it was ARRANGED! THE PRODUCERS PLANNED THE WHOLE THING OUT!

I, too, would like to know what this plastic crate was...

[JacksonMaine]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 3:33pm

I've seen "Billy Elliot" twice and don't remember anything about a plastic crate. I guess there must have been one or they wouldn't have gotten hit. Sheeesh, between "Spidey" and "Billy Elliot" are no audience members safe?! lol

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 3:35pm

Just wait until the day Mary Poppins has a sudden onset of stomach flu right as her final exit happens. I can't wait for those lawsuits.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 3:39pm

If the accident occurred in November of 2009 and they just filed the lawsuit yesterday, that is very telling.

The women's suit charges the show's producers, Billy Broadway and NBC Universal, with "general negligence" for "arranging a hazardous and dangerous choreography" and "failing to give . . . any notice or warning" to the audience.

Total nonsense. from what has been reported, there doesn't seem to be any evidence of negligence. And the expectation of a notice or warning regarding anything hazardous or dangerous to the audience would require either a previous incident or psychic abilities. The choreography was changed immediately, though there is no record of any previous audience injuries or incidents regarding the choreography or props used in the show. If they don't settle (which they probably will), I hope the judge throws it out. I feel bad that the women were injured, but their response to the situation is pure greed.

Hell, confetti cannons are more dangerous. What kind of warning were they expecting? Caution: Props are used on stage during the performance.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 4:07pm

^Exactly. If things weren't taken care of properly, they should have sued right after the incident and not almost 2 years later.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 4:22pm

Reminds of the 'Cats' controversy:

[Anakela]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 4:51pm

If the accident occurred in November of 2009 and they just filed the lawsuit yesterday, that is very telling.

A little over a year to file suit seems about right, actually, especially if there have been settlement talks or something going on in the meantime (that's just me speculating, I have no knowledge either way).

And I might have just watched "Angry Dance" on YouTube and I *still* can't figure out what they were hit by!

Time to start a things I've seen fly into the audience (but not send people to the hospital) list:
- jump rope during Whipped Into Shape (Legally Blonde)
- cell phone during Blackout (In the Heights)
...I'm sure you guys have seen some good ones. I remember hearing about plates in the Gypsy revival, I think?

Updated On: 2/15/11 at 04:51 PM

[SNAFU]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 4:58pm

Deadly spittle during Spring Awakening.

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 5:01pm

When I sit front row to WICKED I always get nervous during the catfight because of the wand twirl haha...if that thing came soaring towards someone it could do some serious damage.

I've seen books fly into the audience from one show and a friend told me that during a performance of "Next to Normal" a fork or something came pretty close to the front of the stage during "You Dont Know"

[singtopher]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 5:17pm

It is my understanding that lawsuits usually have a high balled dollar figure attached to them. They don't expect to get that amount of money.

Granted, I can't imagine why they would need to set it that high. I could see 100K-200K to cover medical costs and "damages", but 2 million each? This isn't the power ball.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 5:18pm

Yes, the performance of Gypsy that I saw, Boyd Gaines had one of his plates bounce off the stage into the front row. And I wish Cheyenne Jackson had fallen in my lap at Xanadu.

[viola13]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 5:27pm

I've always been vaguely afraid of the backpacks and guitar cases thrown at Johnny, Tunny, and Will in American Idiot flying into the audience. I know there's probably nothing in them, but still.

A friend had Mark's camera practically fall into her lap at Rent once.

[trentsketch]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 5:41pm

I got wacked upside the head during In My Life. If you saw the show, you'll undoubtedly know what I mean when I say it happened during the skeleton dance sequence. The angel character orchestrating a man's horrid medical deterioration has a macabre (bizarre? wacky? insane? illy conceived and jaw-droppingly bad? that's the one) dance number with projected skeletons and an anatomical model. He whips out a glittery walking stick with a skull head on it. This night, he whipped it out, extended it, and the bottom half of the cane came off and hit me in the front row. I laughed my ass off and asked the stagehand who retrieved if it I could keep it as a souveneir (the answer: no).

Had I known back then I could have blamed the show for intentionally conspiring to give me a bruised cheek, I'd have shut them down with a lawsuit so fast the producers would have never worked again. Or, you know, I could understand that accidents happen and getting a Broadway show to accept responsibility and pay my medical bills (four dollars for an icepack and a bottle of ointment) would be more than enough payment. Money grabbing opportunistic idiots, both of them.

[crushgroove]

Posted: 2/15/11 at 5:57pm

My best friend got hit in the face with Alice Ripley's shoe at Next to Normal...did she sue? No. She thought it was awesome...she is an actor and loves the spontaneity of live theatre. Yes...that's really happened.