Nancy Lesser, the EVP of Media and Talent at HBO suffered pelvis fractures and other major injuries when she tried to leave the Emmy’s last year to hurry to the HBO after party she was helping to coordinate. The professional damage of missing that important party combined with the 8 months of physical rehabilitation has now resulted in a personal injury suit against the Television Academy, Anshutz  and the city of Los Angeles.

Alleging medical bills in excess of $1 million as well as lost earnings and future earnings capacity, THR Esq reports on the details of the claim: “Those responsible for the red carpet knew based on past and present experience with award shows that even celebrity attendees to award shows could be expected to exit in a thong-like manner which would create extreme congestion and severely diminish any forward visibility and certainly diminish visibility of conditions that may appear on the walkway itself.” Lesser’s fall took place when she took a side exit and feel onto an area of dirt concrete space.

Not only does Lesser claim that the defendants named in the complaint have a duty to anticipate that attendees will use side exits but to also be aware that female attendees are wearing very high heels with little visibility to any danger in front or around them.

There’s a lot going on in this very public claim and Hollywood is always a good way to learn about the law. Here’s some questions you might have about this personal injury lawsuit:

• How is she claiming over $1 Million in medical bills? Medical bills are expensive and the purpose of a lawsuit like this is to help compensate you for your current injuries (so, the 8 months she has spent dealing with her injuries) and also to pay for your future needs by working with your doctors and other medical professionals to forecast the cost and scope of your needs. A serious slip and fall like the one Lesser experienced can lead to permanent injuries and the settlement amount should reflect the impact the injury has on hehr life going forward.
• Why are there there different defendants? There are many instances in which there are multiple defendants listed in a personal injury suit. The reason is simple– there are multiple parties responsible for the injury. Here, she is trying to hold them all accountable and ultimately if there is any liability, each party would pay according to their % of responsibility.
• Why would she mention high heels? The higher the better is the slogan when it comes to dressing for Hollywood award shows; and while 4-6 inch heels may look great, they make it all the easier to trip in. Whether or not the defendants should be aware and take caution to the outfits of their attendees is a realistic addition to this claim but to what extent (if any) will be up for debate in this suit.

Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere and to anyone. But when they are caused by the negligence of another party, you should consider a personal injury lawsuit. At Walch Law, we are here to help with your recovery. Fill out our contact us form to set up your free consultation with us today. We have been helping individuals in your very situation for over 40 years and have a 95%+ success rate.