Rosie Perez to Sue Over 'Law & Order: SVU' Injuries

By Kelly Fisher Posted May 19th 2011 06:55AM

Actress Rosie Perez was injured on the set of 'Law & Order: SVU' in 2009 and now she's taking legal action against the NBC show.

According to the NY Daily News, Perez was filming a guest role on the hit New York City-based crime drama in September 2009 when a scene called for an extra to forcibly shake her. The violent action caused Perez to suffer a herniated disc which took two surgeries to correct.

"The thing to do was taking someone who knows what he's doing to make it look violent without being violent," said Perez's lawyer Brian O'Dwyer, who filed a lawsuit Wednesday in the Brooklyn Supreme Court. "This person was not a stuntman, he was just an extra."

Perez continued to work on the episode, titled 'Hardwired,' which O'Dwyer said likely caused her injuries to worsen.

"There was pressure on her to continue and finish up the episode and she did," he said.

The lawsuit doesn't mention a specific dollar amount the 'Pineapple Express' actress hopes to get from the lawsuit, but given the severity of her injuries, O'Dwyer expects "very substantial" damages.

Perez underwent two surgeries to correct the problem, including a spinal fusion last summer, just days before she attended a White House ceremony. The actress attended the event in a wheelchair and neck brace.

"She's still suffering severe pain, numbness of the arms, and she'll never be the same despite the surgery," said O'Dwyer, who added that the injuries Perez sustained on the 'Law & Order' set resulted in her loss of work for nearly a year.

Tags: rosie perez

Comments

(60)

Thursday 19 May

By nonyabusiness

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GET ALL YA CAN ROSIE!

By BTDT

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Someone didn't save their Nanny money.

By King David

NOW you will see acting!!! Up until the "accident" she couldn't act alive. Get ready for the Academy Award act (for that big pay day to follow). I hope they put a clause in the probably award that she will not be allowed to do certain things, so when her "miraculous healing" happens she can't try the movies again -- although she is just a "D" actor in a world of "B" movies.

By Jenni

Not that I think that Rosie Perez is anything special, but I have a herniated disc in my neck, and I've had spinal fusion surgery, and it's brutal as hell! There's not going to be any miraculous recovery for her. All the surgery did was stabilize her injury, the pain never, EVER goes away. I feel really bad for her.

By syl1969

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Yep, this is the mentality that is destroying this country!

By red

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BDTD-That was Fran Drescher, not Rosey Perez in the Nanny

By Vicky

Couldn't agree with you more. Look Rosie used to be a dancer and I am sure she has had a lot of wear and tear on her body. Was she hurt? I'm guessing she was to what degree...who knows. What I do know is that the head honchos will not be losing a dime out of pocket. Insurance who claims to protect studios when this occurs are the ones who will be paying out. I say take them to the cleaners. They have no problem taking us to the cleaners every month. Go for it Rosie take it and take it all!

By Alli

ok if she thought the scene was dangerous she should have gotten a stunt double to stand in for her, secondly if she was injured as badly as she claims she was she should have quit right away. sounds like she needs exposure and a paycheck...if I were NBC Id fight this one all the way

By jerrysizzle

agreed

By atthev

Soooo. Those couple of surgeries were for what ? Maybe the hospitals and Drs are all in on it ? LMAO @ dopes like you! Tell me Mother Teresa. What would you do if you were injured during the filming ? Yeah. Thought so!

By Muscleman

so does this mean I can sue HER for breaking my eardrums with that annoying voice during that episode? lol

By raven93614

Just like whiplash, back and neck injuries often don't show up right away. I'd give her the benefit of the doubt. Think shaken-baby syndrome. This can easily happen.

By old enough to remember

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The article stated that an extra shook her. Maybe the extra was trying to get a permanent job. Or maybe the extra is from the "school of acting" where you really get into the part (sorry, I forgot what they call it).

By k

Who is she? Was there a pre-existing condition? Ah, who cares?

By Barbara

you care or you would not read it or write about it.

By je9tot

They should make a movie about Arnold's affair & Rosie Perez can be casted as the housekeeper !!

By lita

"Casted?" Your ignorance is showing... in more ways than one.

Your parents must be proud off raising such a public, yet cowardly racist (no real name or photo. Boy are you a brave one!

By ShinyHappyRedneck

And people say Gilbert Gottfried has an annoying voice......

By D.