Resident Evil stuntwoman sues producers after losing arm in motorbike scene
Written by News on 13/09/2019
A stuntwoman who lost her arm in a motorbike accident and spent 17 days in a coma while filming Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is suing the film’s producers.
Olivia Jackson says she was misled over the insurance cover for her injuries and claims it has only paid out $33,000 (£26,000).
The 38-year-old suffered terrible injuries when she collided with a camera on a mechanical crane that was being driven at her as she rode towards it.
Her lawsuit, filed in California, claims there were “last minute” changes to the stunt in September 2015 that meant the camera was lifted a moment later on the final run.
It says the camera smashed into her forearm with a combined speed of 71mph, “obliterating the bone” as well as “tearing her cheek flesh back leaving her teeth exposed”.
Her left arm had to be amputated and other injuries included brain swelling, punctured lungs, dozens of broken bones and a severed vital neck artery
The lawsuit says Ms Jackson’s spine has become “twisted and deformed” because of the effect of all her injuries.
It claims the $33,000 insurance money she has received does not even cover one of the potential 10 surgeries she needs.
Ms Jackson said she also later found out there was no liability coverage for her claim.
She is suing producers Paul Anderson and Jeremy Bolt, who she claims abandoned her and have not fulfilled an offer to pay all her medical bills.
Bolt Pictures and Tannhauser Gate are also listed on the lawsuit for breach of contract and misrepresentation.
Ms Jackson, who is married to British stuntman David Grant and lives in Buckinghamshire, said this week: “I miss my old face. I miss my old body. I miss my old life. It really hurts that I have to live with the aftermath of other people’s mistakes.
“I wish I had realised that there would be wholly inadequate protection for me before I ever took the role.”
Ms Jackson was doing the stunt for actress Milla Jovovich and says the film went on to rake in more than $300m (£243m) worldwide.
The case was submitted last year in South Africa – where the stunt took place – but was dismissed at the request of Anderson and Bolt’s lawyers.
The defendants to the lawsuit have yet to respond.
(c) Sky News 2019: Resident Evil stuntwoman sues producers after losing arm in motorbike scene
