Discovery Sued Fatal Pyrotechnic Disaster of a Woman Killed by a Rocket for Reality TV #Lawsuit

During the taping of a military-themed show, a woman was hit and killed by a rocket.

Last June, a film production crew was taping a pilot for a show that was to be called Brother in Arms. According to a lawsuit filed in Colorado federal court on Thursday, producers were filming the opening sequence of the show where five individuals were going to walk through a cloud of smoke with weapons.

To pull this off, two pyrotechnic devices are said to have been used. The devices malfunctioned, shooting rockets toward the individuals -- hitting one, a woman named Terry Flanell, and killing her. Her family is now suing over the tragedy.

According to one Colorado paper, the show focused on military vehicles from World War I and was being filmed at a shooting range called Dragonman's owned by Flanell and her husband, Melvin Bernstein. A local ABC affiliate reported then that the smoke bombs turned rockets were traveling at 150 mph and after the accident occurred, Colorado police and federal investigators including the ATF showed up to investigate.

Bernstein, who has told the press previously that he was missed by the rockets by inches, is now suing and blaming Discovery and Anthropic Productions for not using a licensed manufacturer of pyrotechnic devices, not obtaining permits from government authorities and not having qualified professionals to administer the stunt.

The lawsuit states, "At the time Terry Flanell was killed, Discovery violated § 12-28-102(5), C.R.S (2012), which provides in pertinent part that it shall be unlawful for any person to possess or discharge any fireworks, except permissible fireworks, anywhere in the State of Colorado."
Bernstein says he suffered grief, the impairment of the quality of his life, emotional distress and financial loss. He's suing for actual damages.

Two weeks ago, the network was brought to court by the mother of a cameraman who was killed in a helicopter crash.

Read More... http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/discovery-sued-fatal-pyrotechnic-disaster-569169

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