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 Max Brantner

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Anyone who has ever had either back or neck disc problems knows that she had to seriously hurt or she would not do two neck surgeries. I am delaying mine with epidurial shots in my neck every 6-8 months until they no longer work. At the worst the disc caused numbness down my arm to fingers. similar to the symptoms she had. Without the surgeries I would say fake but not once but twice. She is hurt and it may not be able to be fixed.

By jeff

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"...to make it look violent without being violent,"

there's you defense, "Law and Order." her stupid attorney admitted his client knew the risks and placed herself in danger.

"This person was not a stuntman, he was just an extra." more stupid remarks from her attorney.

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

more admissions!

BTW, did her attorney explain to her she will never get another acting job again by filing this suit? attorneys are pigs that way.

I ought to know. I used to practice law.

By Benwa

I am not going to say that all atoorneys are pigs. But, I do hate being a lawyer. Wish I was smart enough to do something else.

By rolyan208

Maybe it's a case of shaken actress syndrome. No...wait, that would require her to be an actress. Okay, I see how it works, act hurt, collect money, tah-dah. A fine performance.

By uawildcat

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Suing 2 years after the fact? Looks like someone's strapped for cash...

By Jamie

Also its been 2 years since the episode and she's just now filing a lawsuit?

By Eileen

The sad truth is Rosie, you will be in pain for the rest of your life. Been there done that... Last surgery was supposed to make it better and it didn't. Get all you can while you can... Take your pain killers and do what the doctor says. I am currently on methadone and even that doesn't stop the pain but it does make it tolerable.

By wtf

So why did it take almost 2 years to file a lawsuit. Hmmmm, haven't seen her in anything or heard her name. is it maybe because she needs money?????????

By rnc113

It's the only way she could get a guaranteed paycheck--she certainly couldn't get one for her acting. Ugh!!!!

By sherylynne

why isn't she suing the extra as well as the show? Sounds to me like the insurance carrier providing the liability insurance would be handling this as a claim or a respondent.

By joan

Rosie can now kiss her career goodbye. Producers don't like it when law suits are filed and with her health problems, how would they get insurance on her?

By Jim

Anyone that has had a herniated disc knows that the pain is so intense that she would of been hard pressed to keep performing. I'm sure if this had happened during filming, someone would have spilled it to the tabloids and everyone would have heard of this before now. Perhaps it happened afterward and she's looking for a retirement fund. With her looks voice and talent (or lack of), she's doesn't get a lot of offers.

Friday 20 May

By Misery

"Anyone that has had a herniated disc knows that the pain is so intense that she would of been hard pressed to keep performing."

No, that's not always how it works, especially with spinal injuries. I crushed a disk skydiving, didn't know, didn't have any pain and didn't start having symptoms until 6 years later, when it went from a few muscle spasms to suddenly being (temporarily) paralyzed from the waist down.

By Joey

Rosie honey you D-List has been that never really was, you better win the case and it better be for enough money to last the rest of your life...SUV did you a favor by letting you guest on their show...Now that you're suing them I'm sure NO one else will call you for a part...and PLEASE tell your mother to stop bouncing on Ah-nold's junk!!!!

By Oliver

I guess she'll get more from a settlement, than her few years left as a bit player. enjoy being blackballed now, genius.

By Cmab

I think what resulted in her not being able to work for a year is her lack of talent.

By Susan

I've seen that episode twice, and it was just re-run several weeks ago. I can't remember her being shaken in it, not to say it didn't happen. What there saying, is we should now be concerned about "shaken adult" syndrome or a sort of walking whiplash? I don't necessarily think she should be suing Law & Order, the show, per se, maybe she should be going after the director himself.

By linda

dont these actors have insurance to cover such injuries, one would think so with all the stunt work on them.. the insurance probably did cover all her hospital bills, but she doesnt have aflac so she wants some exttra cash..shoulda signed up for aflac rosie..

By Brian Workman

Give her a half-mill and get over it!

Saturday 21 May

By Josh

She continued working that day?!! I remember when I hurt my back at work I was in so much pain I had to go to the hospital right away. First time ever I was happy to be going to the hospital!

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