Former Knights File Lawsuits Against Medieval Times LLC

By Merylee Robbins

Published on October 06, 2005

Garret Bonham and James Killis Jr. both believe that they were wrongfully terminated from their positions as knights soon after filing worker's compensation claims for severe injuries sustained during staged combat performances. Bonham suffered a broken nose, collarbone, and a concussion, while Killis reported injuries to his head, back, shoulders and knees. Both plaintiffs admit that they had filed and were compensated for previous workers compensation claims.

Bonham's lawsuit, which was filed for approval as a class action suit, also claims that Medieval Times failed to provide him with another employment option that did not involve engaging in combat. Instead management opted to fire him on the grounds that he was not longer performing up to standard.

The attorney representing the two men hopes that once the class action status of the suit is approved, the case will gain momentum with claims from other former knights and squires. The dangerous nature of their jobs, which required them to ride horses and take staged falls during performances, combined with a lack of adequate safety equipment, lead many to sustain life-long orthopedic injuries. The severe nature of these injuries combined with well documented policies created by Medieval Times to deter knights and squires from filling workers compensations claims could prompt about 100 other workers to join the suit.

Medieval Times maintains that the former knights' claims are without merit, but will not discuss specifics pertaining to the cases.

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