“Warner Bros. Faces Lawsuit After Crew Member Struck by Lightning on ‘The Winchesters’ Set”
– A crew member on the Supernatural prequel show, The Winchesters, is suing Warner Bros., accusing the studio of ignoring safety rules during filming in dangerous weather conditions.
– The crew member, Bryan DeLorenzo, claims he was struck by lightning after being instructed to continue filming during a heavy rainstorm in Louisiana.
According to the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, the production violated rules regarding when a production must shut down if lightning strikes within a certain radius of the set. Despite multiple delays due to the weather conditions, director John Showalter allegedly changed the scene to be shot in the rain and directed the crew to continue filming, even though DeLorenzo expressed concerns about safety.
Shortly after this conversation, DeLorenzo was standing next to a camera when he heard a loud noise and saw a bright white light before being struck by lightning and losing consciousness. He was subsequently sent to the emergency room.
The suit cites safety procedures specific to the production, stating that if lightning strikes within a six-mile area of the film set, the production must immediately shut down and may not resume until at least 30 minutes after the lightning has passed. DeLorenzo claims that several days before the incident, he communicated with Warner Bros.’ production coordinator and safety officers about procedures to follow during bad weather conditions. Their response allegedly included telling him to purchase lightning detector products and weather apps.
In the complaint, DeLorenzo seeks compensatory and punitive damages for physical injuries, pain, emotional distress, and other damages. The lawsuit names Warner Bros., The CW Network, and executive producer Jensen Ackles as defendants.
Warner Bros. has not yet responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit.
Source: www.hollywoodreporter.com