A member of the production crew for the Netflix film "Me Time" has resolved a legal dispute stemming from a near-fatal accident that resulted in a severe traumatic brain injury. Michael Oronoz, who was employed as a grip at Sunset Gower Studios in September 2021, plummeted 33 feet from a catwalk to the floor below, subsequently falling into a coma for three arduous weeks. His lengthy rehabilitation journey included relearning fundamental skills such as speech and walking.
In 2023, Oronoz filed a lawsuit against Hudson Pacific Properties, the owner of the facility, claiming negligence in the upkeep of the 1957 building. However, on Monday, this lawsuit was dismissed. Legal representatives from both parties declined to elaborate on the outcome, and the specific terms of the settlement remained confidential. Netflix, which was not a defendant in the case, likewise refrained from commenting.
Tragically, a similar mishap occurred in February 2024, when J.C. "Spike" Osorio fatally fell 41 feet at Radford Studio Center. An investigation by Cal/OSHA attributed the accident to rotten wood in the catwalk, resulting in citations for both Radford and Disney. This incident prompted numerous studio facilities to upgrade their catwalks with retrofitting measures.
Last fall, Oronoz's wife, Selina, vocalized her concerns regarding lax safety standards prevalent on movie sets. "We yearn for improvements. These buildings are aged," she revealed to Variety. "They are aware of the outdated equipment, yet they have taken no action to address it over the years."
During his attempt to rectify a jammed motorized hoist, Oronoz, who is also a member of IATSE Local 80, leaned for support on a gate that unfortunately swung outward over an empty space. His attorney, Alexander Eisner, contended that current safety standards dictate such gates to either slide or swing inward. Nonetheless, there was no mandatory requirement to upgrade the facility to meet these standards. A photograph captured three months prior to the accident depicted the gate secured with a rope, indicating a malfunctioning latch.
"It's challenging to justify allowing such a hazardous condition to persist," Eisner expressed to Variety last fall.
Oronoz underwent 11 surgeries and suffered a loss of 10 years' worth of memories. His recovery was accompanied by accumulated medical bills totaling $5 million, which were fortunately covered by workers' compensation insurance. His attorney estimated potential lost wages and future medical expenses could escalate to as much as $14 million.
Last year, Oronoz returned to work in a limited capacity, albeit only for a couple of days each week. He and his wife are parents to five children.
