Douglas Coleman v. Edward Pressman Film Corporation
Published: Nov. 28, 1998 | Result Date: Apr. 13, 1998 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: BC158766 Verdict – $0
Judge
Court
L.A. Superior Central
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Abram C. Zukor
(Zukor & Nelson)
Abram C. Zukor
(Zukor & Nelson)
Defendant
Experts
Defendant
Donald P. Borchers
(technical)
Facts
On Nov. 1, 1995, plaintiff Douglas Coleman, a 35-year-old experienced stunt coordinator, performed a high fall from an 11-story building in downtown Los Angeles. At the time, the plaintiff was attached to a stunt machine called a "descender." The descender was designed and maintained by Lane Levit and his corporation, Levitation. Levitation regularly supplies stunt equipment, including descenders, to the stunt and motion picture industry. The plaintiff had experience using descenders prior to his accident. The descender machine was operated by an experienced operator. If the descender operated correctly, the plaintiff would have been slowed to a stop by the operation of the descender consisting mainly of torque running from the descender along a steel cable through a group of pulleys, eventually being hooked to a safety-harness worn by the plaintiff. The machine, however, did not operate correctly. The plaintiff jumped from the 11-story building, fell, and was about to strike the ground when the operator engaged the emergency brakes, causing the plaintiff to come to an immediate stop from a fall speed of 100 mph. The plaintiff brought this action against the defendants based on negligence and strict product liability theories of recovery.
Settlement Discussions
No offers or demands were exchanged.
Specials in Evidence
$50,000 $200,000
Injuries
The plaintiff suffered a broken back, contused aorta and lacerations.
Result
WE NEED THE EXPERTISE OF EXPERT DONALD BORCHERS
Other Information
The verdict was reached approximately one year and after the case was filed.
Poll
____ - ____ (Nos. Pls.)
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