A stunt double has filed a lawsuit against CBS Corp., CBS studios, and other production companies after he was hit by a car on-set.
First reported on Deadline, the stuntman is Justin Sundquist, who doubles for Alex O'Loughlin, who plays Steve McGarrett on "Hawaii Five-0." The incident happened on July 27, 2016. The scene called for him chasing after a carjacker in a parking garage. According to the lawsuit, which was filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court, he was then hit by a speeding car, sustaining serious injuries, to the point that he would no longer be able to serve as a stunt performer.
The lawsuit stated that an actor, instead of a trained stuntman, was driving the vehicle that hit Sundquist. A key safety personnel who was under the influence of "narcotic-controlled substances" at the time, having taken several pain killers right before the shoot, was also alleged to cause or contribute to the accident. It also stated that an unnamed person "enticed certain stunt performers with a quid pro quo — if they supplied him with pills, he supplied them with work."
According to the lawsuit, "Hawaii Five-0" has a history of having a "rushed, hectic set," with the production being so demanding that safety ended up being compromised during shoots. It also stated that 18 months before the incident, the show's executives were already sent an email notifying them about the safety concerns on set, including the drugs issue. However, they allegedly did not address these concerns.
Aside from "Hawaii Five-0," Sundquist's credentials include 2016's "Captain America: Civil War," in which he doubled for Sebastian Stan, who played Captain America's brainwashed best friend Bucky Barnes. He also did stunts for other films such as 2017's "Kong: Skull Island" and "The Fate of the Furious."
CBS has yet to release a statement regarding the lawsuit.
