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Although they light up the screens both big and small, actors are often no different from you or I. They eat. They sleep. They work hard at their jobs. And when their workplace does not take the proper cautionary measures to ensure safety, they can suffer from occupational personal injuries. A recent example is seen in the case filed by actress Rosie Perez, who is suing the makers of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for her personal injuries suffered while guest-starring on the set back in 2009.
In the suit filed in New York court, Ms. Perez’s personal injury attorney claims that the production company “failed to utilize skilled performers or experienced stunt personnel” for a scene in which her character was violently shaken by another actor portraying a school crossing guard.
She was “negligently, carelessly, violently and recklessly pulled, grabbed, yanked, wrenched and/or manhandled,” resulting in “severe and permanent injuries” during the filming, the suit said. Her lawyer said she underwent two surgeries for a herniated disc and is suffering severe pain and has numbness in her arms. Perez has been out of work for about a year.
It is very possible that based on her extensive acting career, Ms. Perez does not necessarily need the money she seeks – but that may not be the point of the lawsuit. What people often fail to realize is that there is basic principle involved. The idea of somebody taking responsibility for what they did wrong – whether it is a lazy production company, bad driver, or greedy company cutting corners – is extremely powerful for victims. Persons injured by the negligent or wrongful acts of others are often just looking for the defendant to say they were sorry, or in the alternative, a jury to determine that defendant is responsible for plaintiff’s injuries.
