Lawsuit Filed Against Transformers 3 (Updated)

As expected, a lawsuit was filed against Transformers 3 production by the family of Gabriela Cedillo who was injured on September 1st while an extra on the Hammond, Indiana set. Tragically, it seems the Mrs. Cedillo, did suffer permanent brain damage as a result of the accident and remains at Loyola Medical Center. The lawsuit alleges negligence in the welding of towing components, design of the bracket and allowing extras too close to a car stunt that was being filmed. Below is the description of the accident from Chicago Breaking News and the Cedillo family's attorney

Cedillo was among 80 extras and was driving her own car in the westbound lanes of a vacated portion of Cline Avenue for the stunt, according to the lawsuit. While she and the others were driving, stunt vehicles were being towed by flatbed trucks in the opposite lanes at about 50 mph, the suit states. The stunt called for two of the towed vehicles to rise in the air and then flip "by use of a pulling cable with the idea being to cause violent rolls of the cars involved," her lawyers said. On the day of the accident, a cable and bracket attached to the bottom of a stunt car closest to Cedilla and the other extras snapped, the lawyers said. The vehicle became "airborne into the oncoming lanes, striking Ms. Cedillo's hood, windshield and eventually her head." the lawyers said.

Based on the description as written it sounds like they are saying she was hit by an actual stunt car. However, CBS 2 Chicago is more specific saying it "One of the cables and an attached bracket from a stunt car came loose and hit Cedillo's hood and windshield, and later her head." The amount of damages being asked is unknown but generally speaking the goal, at least by the lawyers, is to try to reach as large a settlement as possible while avoiding a trial. I just hope that if money changes hands, there is some guarantees that it will go to Gabriela Cedillo in providing for her care and hopeful recovery (as much as is possible anyway). According to Deadline, Michael Bay was not mentioned in the suit and Paramount issued a brief statement.

We are all terribly sorry that this accident occurred. Our thoughts, prayers and best wishes are with Gabriela, her family and loved ones. The production will continue to provide all the help we can to Gabriela and her family during this difficult time.

I would not expect any more details beyond this as the number one piece advise a lawyer will give you when getting sued (or arrested) is to shut up and say nothing. Advice that I am sure filtered from top Paramount brass all the way down to the cast and crew of the Transformers 3 production. Thanks to Rob and Ray for the links.

Update: Chicago Breaking News updated the story with a little bit more information about Gabriela Cedillo's condition along with a photo of the car.

After nearly a month in intensive care at Loyola Medical Center, Cedillo was recently moved to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Despite her cognitive impairment, she is able to mouth words and write with her right hand, Romo said. She is able to indicate if she is in pain, he said, and she has written her family "I love you" and "Everything's going to be OK.