Miguel’s Stage Leap Lands Him a Lawsuit

LAS VEGAS (CN) - A would-be leap from the stage of the 2013 Billboard Music Awards to a nearby catwalk landed award-winning singer Miguel and Billboard Music Awards in a lawsuit.

Cindy Tsai sued in Clark County court this past week, accusing the Latin superstar and Billboard Music Awards of negligence for the singer's ill-advised leap from the main stage during his performance at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards.

The awards show was held May 19, 2013, at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Instead of successfully leaping over several audience members and landing cleanly on the catwalk several feet away, Miguel partly landed on Tsai and another audience member.

Tsai says she was a guest in the pit area located next to the stage and next to the catwalk when Miguel attempted to leap over her and others.

The singer "recklessly, carelessly, negligently and violently" slammed into Tsai, "striking her head and crushing her into the side of the catwalk and injuring" her, the complaint states.

Miguel, whose full name is Miguel Jontel Pimentel, won a Grammy in 2013 for his hit song "Adorn" and several other awards.

Tsai accuses Miguel and other defendants of negligence and negligent hiring, training and supervision.

She seeks general and special damages, lost wages due to her "impaired and diminished earning capacity," attorney's fees and legal costs.

Also named as defendants are MGM Grand Hotel, Billboard Music Awards 2013, Prometheus Global Media, Don Mischer Productions and a company called Seatfillers and More, which provided Tsai's ticket to the awards show.

Attorney John L. Bertoldo filed the complaint on Tsai's behalf but was not available for comment.

Officials for MGM Grand had not responded to a request for comment by press time.

Prometheus Global Media representatives were not available for comment.

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Email *

Submit