Disney Forced to Pay $36,000 After Crewmember Dies on Set of Wonder Man

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Disney Forced to Pay $36,000 After Crewmember Dies on Set of Wonder Man

Summary

  • Disney was fined $36,000 for safety violations after
    Wonder Man
    crew member Juan Osorio’s tragic death in February. The deteriorated catwalk at Radford Studio Center led to Osorio’s death, a preventable tragedy according to his attorney.
  • The news follows another death associated with Disney, one due to an allergic reaction at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts.
  • Friends started a GoFundMe page to help Osorio’s widow with expenses, raising over $191,000 so far.

As a compassionate observer of the entertainment industry, I cannot help but feel deeply saddened by the tragic events that have unfolded surrounding Juan Carlos “Spike” Osorio’s death. The fact that such a preventable tragedy could occur on a set, where safety should be paramount, is truly heartbreaking.

CAL/OSHA has fined Disney $36,000 in regard to the February 2024 death of Wonder Man crew member Juan Carlos “Spike” Osorio. Osorio, a lighting technician, died on February 6 after falling through a catwalk at Stage 3 of the Radford Studio Center in Studio City. A California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) investigation found that the catwalk had a weakening section of wood that was not properly nailed to a support. Per the investigation’s findings (via Deadline):

“Over time, the old and worn-out ledger had probably been weakened by age, harsh conditions, and continuous strain from various factors over several decades. While the team was navigating the catwalks, an employee unfortunately stepped onto a weak part of it. Without any prior indication, the support beam beneath the floorboard snapped and crumbled under the weight, causing the employee to fall 41 feet and land hard on the ground below.”

Erika Contreras represents both Joanne Osorio-Wu, widow of the deceased Osorio, and his mother Zoila Osorio. She stated to Variety that the evidence shows Osorio’s demise was entirely avoidable. Furthermore, she claimed that Radford Studio Center neglected its non-transferable responsibility to keep their property in good condition, safe for use, and properly maintained. Sadly, it was Osorio who suffered the consequences of Radford’s negligence following a wrongful death lawsuit filed in May.

Visit the Family’s GoFundMe

After the unfortunate incident involving Osorio, friends established a GoFundMe campaign to help Osorio-Wu, anticipating “a lengthy journey filled with lawyer costs and bills. During this time, expenses will pile up and Joanne W., the widow and boom operator, will be left to handle everything alone.” The fundraiser has amassed over $191,000 since its initiation.

Disney’s Recent Legal Woes

Disney Forced to Pay $36,000 After Crewmember Dies on Set of Wonder Man

These citations add to Disney’s recent legal troubles. The global media company has recently found itself at the center of several legal headlines. In February, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts guest Jeffrey Piccolo sued the conglomerate after his wife died following a severe allergic reaction while dining at a restaurant at Walt Disney World last year. The company previously argued that since Piccolo had a Disney+ subscription (and thus signed a streaming contract), he could not file a lawsuit against them. The company has since backtracked on that, but is now denying fault as the restaurant was “neither owned nor operated by Disney.”

Indeed, there’s also the ongoing legal dispute involving Gina Carano, who is backed financially by Elon Musk. The Mandalorian star has filed a lawsuit against Disney and Lucasfilm, alleging discrimination and wrongful termination. This came after she was dismissed from the popular Marvel show following a post that drew parallels between the treatment of conservatives and the Jewish community during the Holocaust. The case is expected to go to trial over this complaint.

Disney and Radford have 15 business days to contest the rulings made in the Osorio case. The reason for this appeal isn’t primarily due to financial concerns, but rather because of the ongoing wrongful death lawsuit that’s currently underway. If they are found guilty by CAL/OSHA, they would likely lose this lawsuit as well. For more details, you can find their full report below.

6:50 a.m., February 6, 2024, an engineering technician for a TV and movie production company was on duty. This employee was part of a team consisting of Employee #1 and Employee #2, who were working together in Stage 3. Their task involved retrieving and dismantling lighting cable gear that dangled from wooden platforms above them. One platform could be reached by climbing a staircase made of wood, which connected to the other catwalks.

These catwalks featured different-sized wooden planks for their walking surface, such as 2×6 inches and 2×8 inches. Beneath these planks were 2×4 inch wooden supports, often called “ledgers.” However, in one part of the catwalk, the ledger was rotten and wasn’t connected to the 4×12 inch supporting beam beneath it, but rather haphazardly nailed to a roof truss. This rotten ledger may have weakened due to aging, harsh weather conditions, and years of heavy use.

While the team was navigating through the overhead walkways, an employee found himself on a precarious part of one such walkway. All of a sudden, without any prior indication, the structural beam beneath the floorboard gave way and shattered, causing the employee to plummet from that section. The fall measured 41 feet, culminating in a hard landing on the ground below. Shortly following the incident, emergency medical personnel confirmed the employee’s demise. The cause of death was determined to be severe trauma to the head, neck, and legs due to the impact.

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2024-08-25 04:31