Cirque du Soleil Settles in Personal Injury Civil Suit

By Merylee Robbins

Published on August 09, 2005

Brown worked in Las Vegas as an electrician for Cirque du Soleil's popular show "O", when he was crushed beneath a 1,000-pound alligator head prop in January 2002. The 14-foot head was suspended 50 feet above him when the rigging holding it up released, sending it down on top of Brown. Brown suffered severe head trauma and spinal cord injuries, which has resulted in paralysis from the waist down.

Brown's personal injury civil suit alleged that the rigging suspending the prop was negligently designed. Cirque du Soleil originally decided not to settle with Brown, citing his negligence in the incident. Cirque du Soleil moved forward with the trial, deciding to settle moments before the verdict was read. Although the exact amount of the settlement is not known, it is estimated to exceed $10 million. After the settlement some jurors revealed that they would have awarded Brown in excess of $40 million for his injuries.

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