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American Horror Story death lawsuit overview:
- Who: The wife of a man who died while working on the set of the television series “American Horror Story” has sued Twentieth Century Fox and Disney.
- Why: The plaintiff says the companies did not enforce safety protocols that would have prevented her husband from contracting COVID-19 on the job.
- Where: The American Horror Story death lawsuit was filed in a Massachusetts federal court.
The wife of a man who died while working on the set of the television series “American Horror Story” has sued Twentieth Century Fox and Disney alleging the companies did not enforce safety protocols that would have prevented her husband from contracting COVID-19 on the job.
Plaintiff Patricia Woodward filed the lawsuit against the Walt Disney Co., Disney’s film production arm, Twentieth Century Fox Film, and production company Ryan Murphy Productions on Jan. 4, alleging negligence.
According to the lawsuit, Woodward’s husband, Paul Woodward, died in hospital in April 2021 after contracting COVID-19 on the set of hit FX-network anthology series “American Horror Story.”
Woodward says her husband was working on the 10th season of the show in Massachusetts as a van driver.
There, the production companies’ insufficient enforcement of COVID-19 safety protocols to prevent the spread of the virus led to his death, she alleges.
“As a direct and proximate result of defendants’ negligence, gross negligence and/or recklessness, decedent contracted COVID-19 while working on the project and endured conscious pain and suffering until his death on April 18, 2021,” the complaint states.
Safety protocols were ‘openly flouted’ on set, lawsuit alleges
Filming began in early 2021, and the plaintiff’s husband’s job included driving a passenger van that transported workers to and from the production site, Woodward says.
She says this was before the COVID-19 vaccine was widely available to the general public. Woodward says her husband’s van lacked a shield or other barrier to separate him from the passengers, even after it was requested.
Safety procedures to protect staff were supposed to include frequent testing, social distancing, cleaning and disinfecting work areas and using protective equipment; however, these rules were not enforced and were “openly flouted,” Woodward alleges.
Woodward is suing for negligence, gross negligence and recklessness, and is seeking damages for her pain and suffering and loss of consortium.
Meanwhile, an unvaccinated former Disney World worker has hit Walt Disney Parks and Resorts with a lawsuit alleging she had her civil rights violated when she was forced to wear a mask at work and then was fired for not wearing one.
What do you think of the allegations in this lawsuit against Fox and Disney? Let us know in the comments!
The plaintiff is represented by Jonathan D. Sweet and Patrick J. Nelligan of Keches Law Group PC.
The American Horror Story death lawsuit is Woodward v. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation et al., Case No. 1:23-cv-10016, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
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