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Court continues Tuesday in the civil trial against magician David Copperfield (born David S. Kotkin). A jury in Las Vegas, Nevada will hear both sides argue over whether he is liable for a former fan sustaining brain damage. Copperfield himself is expected to take the stand, where he will likely face questions regarding the inner-workings of a magic trick that allegedly injured an audience member.
Plaintiff Gavin Cox said he was randomly chosen to participate in a trick at Copperfield’s show at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino on November 12, 2013. He and 12 other audience members were supposed to disappear, but Cox claimed they were pushed through a dark area under construction, where he slipped and fell. He blamed negligence by the magician, hotel and the construction crew for letting this space accumulate dust and debris. He claims the defendants should have warned the participants about the possible dangers.
“There was a duty by the defendants to provide a safe environment to the audience participants,” said plaintiff attorney Benedict Morelli in opening statements on Friday.
MGM attorney Jerry Popovich told jurors that Cox fell not because of negligence by the defendants, but because he missed a step.
“Mr. Cox did not slip, he tripped,” he said.
In multiple media reports, Morelli has said that if Copperfield does testify, it is possible that secrets behind the trick are going to be revealed.
“I’m going to have a good time questioning Mr. Copperfield, because he may try, but I’m not going into any box,” he told The New York Post in 2017. “I do believe that certain secrets are going to come out.”
[Screengrab via Inside Edition]
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