‘Bathroom Crashers’ + Duct Tape = Lawsuit

SACRAMENTO (CN) - A woman helping a friend during a taping of DIY Network's "Bathroom Crashers" nearly severed a finger after host Matt Muenster duct-taped a sledgehammer to her hand and she smashed her finger through a countertop, the woman says in court.

Courtney Muro sued DIY Network, its parent company Scripps Network, and "Bathroom Crashers" host Matt Muenster in Sacramento County Court on Tuesday.

Muro's lawsuit stems from a July 30, 2012 incident during the filming of an episode of "Bathroom Crashers" at her friend's home. Muro says Muenster asked her to help demolish a bathroom counter.

"Plaintiff was provided with a short-length sledgehammer when defendant Matt Muenster secured the sledgehammer to plaintiff's right hand using duct tape," Muro says in the complaint. "Plaintiff proceeded to swing the sledgehammer toward the counter. The impact partially severed her right index finger under the weight of the hammer against a broken piece of countertop. The countertop pierced the skin and muscle of plaintiff's finger. Plaintiff then went into shock at the sight of her exposed tendon."

Muro claims that show managers realized only then they had never gotten her signature on the usual waivers and release of liability.

"While plaintiff continued to suffer in shock and the bleeding from her right hand, plaintiff then signed the waiver of liability while using her left hand," Muro says in the lawsuit.

Muro accuses Muenster of negligent infliction of emotional distress, saying he should have taken better care of her during the shoot. She accuses all the defendants of negligence and Scripps Network of negligent hiring, retention, training and supervision, as Muenster's employer.

She is represented by William Brelsford, with Poswall, White & Cutler in Sacramento.

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