SPIDER-MAN Stuntman Files $6M Law Suit Over Injuries

By: Feb. 19, 2013
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According to the UK's Guardian, a stuntman from Broadway's SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK has filed a $6 million lawsuit over injuries he suffered on the production. Richard Kobak (Joshua Kobak according to cast lists for the show), claims he sustained the injuries while filling in for another cast member in 2010.

While the law suit does not specifically list the injuries he incurred, Kobak has previously claimed to have suffered a concussion, whiplash and two herniated discs. According to the complaint, the injuries were due to equipment which was not, "adjusted to his personal specifications, leaving it improperly calibrated for the height, weight and size of the plaintiff".

Kobak also alleges that during a different performance, he was required to change a technique in order to pull off a particular stunt and upon taking the direction, "hit a wall at speed."

The suit was filed against Live Nation Worldwide, the company responsible for supplying, "certain equipment, devices, machinery, computers, computer programs, systems, navigation systems, safety devices and all relevant and necessary items" to the production. Scott Fisher is also named in the claim for being, "responsible for the design, creation, manufacture, fabrication, installation, maintenance, repair and upkeep" of some of those items.

The news is just one more complication facing the beleagured production whose original director, Julie Taymor, is seeking more than $1M from producers in addition to future royalties.

Spider-Man officially opened on Broadway in June 2011, after an eight months of preview performances and highly publicized problems. The show reportedly cost a record-breaking $75M to produce.


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