Jonathan Goodwin.Photo: Walter McBride/WireImage
Jonathan Goodwin, who was left paralyzed after he was injured during a stunt on the set ofAmerica’s Got Talent: Extreme, has filed a lawsuit over the 2021 incident.
On Wednesday, the 43-year-old former stuntman filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against Fremantle, Syco Entertainment, Marathon Productions, Walk About Inc., T-Minus Productions, NBCUniversal and stunt coordinator T.J. White.
The lawsuit reads, “Among other actions and inactions, Defendants failed to implement industry safety standards, including, but not limited to, designing and modifying a stunt in a manner that made it highly likely to fail, hiring incompetent individuals to oversee and control the safety of the design and execution of the stunt, improperly controlling the design and execution of the stunt, failing to test the stunt without a live person after modifications were made, failing to implement and require adequate redundancies and suitable airbags (safety nets), and failing to ensure that adequate safeguards were taken to prevent injuries.”
“Because of Defendants conscious disregard for the safety of others and for their gross wanton and reckless breaches, Mr. Harvey suffered catastrophic, life-altering injuries,” the documents continue.
Jonathan Goodwin.Jonathan Goodwin/Instagram
Representatives for NBCUniversal, Syco Entertainment, T-Minus Productions and White did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. A representative for Fremantle told PEOPLE that the company andAGThad no comment, while Marathon Productions and Walk About Inc. could not be reached for comment.
Goodwin’s lawyer, Stuart Fraenkel, shared a statement withNBC Newsand criticized those involved for “putting profits and ratings before safety.”
Jonathan Goodwin.Chris Haston/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Goodwin was hospitalized in 2021 after a rehearsal of his escape act on NBC’sAmerica’s Got Talent: Extremewent wrong. The incident occurred at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, where the show was being filmed.
The stunt involved Goodwin being clad in a straitjacket and hung upside, while he attempted to escape in between two cars suspended alongside him. Timing was misjudged, according to the stuntman’s fiancée, Amanda Abbington, and he then found himself sandwiched between the two cars, which then burst into flames. Goodwin missed the air mattress that was supposed to break his fall, hitting his head on the ground.
The performersuffered “multiple” broken bonesin both of his legs, in addition to cuts and burns “all over his face,” according to TMZ.
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“During a rehearsal last evening forAmerica’s Got Talent: Extreme, an accident occurred in which escape artist Jonathan Goodwin was injured while performing his act,” a spokesperson for the show told PEOPLE in a statement at the time, shortly before productionwas temporarily shut down.
“He was responsive and was immediately taken to the hospital where he is continuing to receive medical care. Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family as we await further updates on his condition,” the statement continued.
Days after the accident, Goodwinposted a selfie of his injured faceand bandaged hand to Instagram, writing in the caption how “a couple of days ago my life took a complete left turn.”
source: people.com
