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Luzia Death Investigation


The product liability lawyers at Shoop | A Professional Law Corporation express their condolences to the family and friends of a technician working on Cirque du Soleil's “Luzia” performance in San Francisco, California. Tragically, the technician, whose name is currently being withheld, was struck by a lift and passed away subsequent to sustaining his injuries on Tuesday night, Cirque du Soleil confirmed in a separate statement from the company. Cirque du Soleil said it could not identify the employee because his family had not yet been reached. The San Francisco Police Department has categorized this tragedy as an “industrial accident.”

Cirque du Soleil further maintained that it is currently gathering additional facts and information regarding the tragic accident and will provide “a more detailed update as soon as (they) are in a position to do so,” it stated.

The incident happened approximately an hour and a half prior to its scheduled, 8 p.m. show start time, located near San Francisco’s AT&T Park. The San Francisco Police Department and the state's Division of Occupational Safety and Health, also (Cal-OSHA), are additionally continuing their investigation of the incident. Cirque du Soleil canceled its Tuesday night performance. The show, “Luzia,” opened in San Francisco earlier in November and will run through the end of January.

SAFETY ISSUES ATTENDANT TO CIRQUE DU SOLEIL PERFORMANCES

The press has speculated that this tragic incident could bring about heightened scrutiny regarding safety at the company. Notably, in 2013, Cirque du Soleil performer, Sarah Guillot-Guyard, fell to the floor after a wire rope from which she had been suspended broke. Ms. Guillot-Guyard fell almost 100 feet to her death before an audience at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Very recently in November, a former Olympic athlete fell face first (plunging approximately sixteen (16) feet during a Cirque du Soleil performance in Brisbane, Australia. Suffering a fracture to her neck and a broken arm.

Although responding officers did not provide details regarding the incident, the Quebec-based company stated earlier Wednesday that the technician was struck by a telescopic lift during the staging / setup process for the show. Cirque du Soleil has close to 4,000 employees, including 1,300 performing artists from nearly 50 different countries.

The product liability lawyers at Shoop | A Professional Law Corporation represent consumers nationally who have suffered catastrophic injury as a result of use or interaction with defective or recalled products and have investigated countless cases of product defect. If you or loved one has suffered such an injury, please give the experienced product liability attorneys in our office a call today for a free consultation to discuss your legal rights.

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Shoop | A Professional Law Corporation

Defective Product Lawyers with a National Presence.

We Get Results. Period.

SHOOP | A PROFESSIONAL LAW CORPORATION

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