A jury has ruled that David Copperfield was negligent but not responsible for a British tourist’s injuries when he tripped and fell while taking part in one of the magician’s vanishing acts in Las Vegas.
Gavin Cox, 57, had filed a lawsuit alleging negligence by Copperfield and the MGM Grand hotel after saying he suffered brain and body injuries when he fell during one of Copperfield’s acts in 2013.
In a complex verdict reached after several weeks of testimony, the jury ruled on Tuesday that Cox was 100 percent responsible for his own injuries.
While jurors did find Copperfield and others named in the suit to be negligent, they found no liability.
The verdict means Cox and his wife Minh-Hahn Cox cannot seek monetary damages.
A jury has ruled that David Copperfield was negligent but not responsible for a British tourist’s injuries when he tripped and fell while taking part in one of the magician’s vanishing acts in Las Vegas
Cox had testified that he was injured when stagehands urged him and others to run during an illusion that appeared to make as many as 13 audience volunteers disappear onstage and reappear moments later, waving flashlights in the back of the theater.
His lawyer, Benedict Morelli, told jurors during closing arguments that the trick was inherently dangerous, and that Copperfield should be held partially liable for Cox’s injuries.
Four years ago, attorneys estimated that Cox had racked up more than $400,000 in medical costs.
Copperfield’s lawyers lost a bid to close the courtroom to the public to prevent disclosure of secrets about the illusion. The magician was forced to give the jury a play-by-play of how his magic show happens.
At least 55,000 audience volunteers had taken part in the trick over 17 years, according to Copperfield and show executive producer Chris Kenner.
Copperfield testified that until Cox sued, he never knew of anyone getting hurt during nearly 20 years performing the trick.
Cox’s lawyers brought in three women who testified that they also were injured.
Gavin Cox, 57, had filed a lawsuit alleging negligence by Copperfield and the MGM Grand hotel after saying he suffered brain and body injuries when he fell during one of Copperfield’s acts in 2013
The graphic above shows a play-by-play of how Copperfield’s magic show happens. Copperfield was forced to tell a Nevada jury about the trick as part of the case