A stuntwoman, Casey Michaels, who alleged ‘career ending’ injuries from filming a scene for Game of Thrones has been awarded a $9.4 million settlement.
Michaels was among the actors chosen to portray a wight, or zombie, in the concluding season of Game of Thrones, which wrapped up in 2019.
The episode titled ‘The Long Night’ depicts the climactic battle between the living and the White Walkers, with various beloved characters joining forces to defeat the undead army.
According to The Independent, Michaels reported in 2018 that she and 27 other stunt performers had been instructed to walk off a 12-foot-high roof as if oblivious to the drop, which was meant to align with the wight’s zombie-like characteristics, landing on a rig comprised of cardboard boxes and mats below.
However, Michaels, identifying herself as the last to step off, alleges she endured injuries resulting in a ‘serious fracture dislocation to her left ankle’.
Discussing the incident with Deadline, she recounted: “I hit the floor and heard my bones breaking underneath me.”
Michaels claimed her injuries necessitated multiple surgeries, including the insertion of a plate in her foot, along with extensive physiotherapy, which left her unable to work.
In 2021, Michaels filed a lawsuit for £4M ($5.3M) against a Warner Bros. Discovery subsidiary, citing issues with the cardboard boxes used in her fall.
She stated: “By their nature, however, the cardboard boxes are not durable and become damaged as each stunt performer lands on the box rig and also as each stunt performer climbs off of the box rig after landing.”
The subsidiary, however, countered by asserting that the rig was ‘durable and compressed when a stunt performer stepped off onto the mattress and rolled away’.
According to Deadline, HBO contended in court that Michaels’ ‘own negligence’ was the cause of the accident, arguing she failed to ‘exercise the skill and care of a reasonably competent stunt performer’.
In 2023, Michaels was awarded more than her initial claim, receiving £7M ($9.3M), including legal expenses, from HBO as part of a settlement in which the company’s lawyers apologized.
Deadline indicates that HBO acknowledged primary liability, based on legal documents viewed by the outlet.
Rowley Irlam, the stunt coordinator during the incident, denied any responsibility, despite not being named in the original lawsuit.
He stated: “As an experienced stunt coordinator of over 20 years, I have successfully and safely managed hundreds of complex stunt sequences across film and television.
“We put great care into designing stunt sequences with safety as the top priority. In the rare instances when an injury does occur, it is deeply upsetting for everyone involved.
“The unfortunate incident involving Casey Michaels took place seven years ago. The matter was resolved between Casey Michaels and the production company a year and a half ago. I was not a party in the litigation, and I was not involved in the decision to settle the claim.
“The settlement between the parties to the litigation does not reflect any admission of fault on my part. There were no rulings or findings of fault against me personally.”
A spokesperson for HBO also relayed to Deadline: “We are saddened to learn about the adversity Ms Michaels has experienced and take these matters very seriously. Mr Irlam is a celebrated and respected stunt coordinator and has an extensive history with HBO productions.
“As an expert in such a physically demanding field, we remain confident in his abilities and know he has always done everything possible to maintain the high safety standards that are required on our productions.”