Opera Singer Injured In 15 Foot Stage Plunge Seeks Injury Claim
A Hampshire opera singer has launched an injury claim after a terrifying onstage accident ruined his career.
David Montague-Rendall was performing at the Copenhagen Opera House in April 2005 when part of a two-tier set subsided and collapsed, sending him plunging fifteen feet. He sustained a shattered hip and damage to both shoulders in the fall, but managed to crawl to safety to avoid suffering further injury.
Although he has appeared on stage since the incident, Mr Montague-Rendall alleges that, wary of him being unable to perform to the same high standards that he had pre-accident, opera companies are now less willing to book him. He last performed over two years ago.
Mr Montague-Rendall is now suing the Danish Ministry of Culture, who own the theatre where the stage collapse happened.
"During the performance two stage levels were raised to give the impression that I was underground in a tomb," he says.
"On the night in question the stage above went sideways instead of up, resulting in the destruction of the set. I was knocked down at least 15 feet and tried to crawl to safety to avoid being crushed."
The 61-year-old, who was covered in debris, has instructed lawyers to pursue his injury claim.
His lawyer said: "The lost earnings for an opera singer of our client's stature are considerable. Although he's received some recompense it's insignificant considering the fact that his career has been ruined and he's been forced to sell his house.
"The Danish Ministry of Culture has admitted liability but refuses to acknowledge the extent of the damage caused.
"Mr Montague-Rendall's case will now be heard in a Danish court, where we will continue to fight for justice on behalf of our client."
The tenor was performing in the opera Aida when the accident happened in April 2005. He had to have several operations: he underwent a hip replacement, followed by a knee joint replacement and extensive shoulder surgery.
Although the circumstances of the case seem quite unique, the basic premises are not: Mr Montague-Rendall has been injured at work and is making an injury claim to recover losses he has incurred as a result of not being able to perform to his former standards.
The only aspect of the scenario that is slightly unusual is the fact that the claimant is having to sue the owners of the theatre. Most work injury claims focus on the employer as owing the duty of care to the employee.
Although, strictly speaking, a Danish government department is unlikely to be viewed as the employer of a touring English opera singer, it may be less clear-cut than that. Recently we have had the story of a woman who failed her audition on Britain's Got Talent, only to claim that the producers of the TV programme could be construed as offering her a temporary job, so she took them to an industrial tribunal!
The notion of the employer as a rigid, clearly-defined entity may be outdated. What is almost certain is that the theatre company owes everybody under its roof a duty of care: a responsibility to safeguard performers, staff and paying audiences from harm.
Allowing a world-renowned opera singer to take to a shoddily-constructed stage, which the claimant himself considered to be notably different in appearance from what he was expecting, could constitute a neglect of that duty of care.
Mr Montague-Rendall is seeking GBP250,000 to cover the earnings lost by his forced two-year sabbatical. Although there is no explicit mention in the claim of any allowance for the pain of his actual injuries, doubtless that consideration will be factored in as well.
by: Richard Craig The Chinese Automobile Spare Part Enterprise Leaves High Quality Has Far? The Best Car Insurance Suzuki Trucks Used Commercial Trucks Trucks For Sale By Owner Dump Trucks Peterbilt Trucks International Trucks Hummer Trucks Qualifying For Auto Title Loans Programs Car Rental In Valencia Make Sure You Read All The Guidelines! Iphone Mount For Automobile Cell Phone Holder Auto Insurance Quotes - The Easy Way To Get Insured