Copperfield being sued (and his illusion exposed)

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Joe Mckay
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Copperfield being sued (and his illusion exposed)

Postby Joe Mckay » June 5th, 2016, 7:34 am

David Copperfield is back in the news. Yikes.

Abracadebacle! Ever wondered how David Copperfield does it? Stooge who claims he was left brain-damaged in bungled vanishing trick reveals magician's secret techniques in sensational three-year legal battle

London-born chef Gavin Cox, 55, was called on stage by David Copperfield

But he fell backstage after taking part in an illusion with inflatable balls

Mr Cox said he was left permanently brain damaged as a result

Copperfield's lawyers denied Mr Cox's allegations and say the illusion has been safely performed for 15 years involving 100,000 participants

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3625583/Abracadebacle-wondered-David-Copperfield-does-Stooge-claims-left-brain-damaged-bungled-vanishing-trick-reveals-magician-s-secret-techniques-sensational-three-year-legal-battle.html

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Copperfield being sued (and his illusion exposed)

Postby Richard Kaufman » June 5th, 2016, 10:43 am

And it's published in the least reliable news outlet in the world: the Daily Mail, right next to dozens of other tabloid stories.
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Re: Copperfield being sued (and his illusion exposed)

Postby Leo Garet » June 5th, 2016, 10:57 am

Richard Kaufman wrote:And it's published in the least reliable news outlet in the world: the Daily Mail, right next to dozens of other tabloid stories.

How do you work that out?
They're all as bad as each other.
:)

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Q. Kumber
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Re: Copperfield being sued (and his illusion exposed)

Postby Q. Kumber » June 5th, 2016, 12:44 pm

The story has also made it to the Telegraph, definitely not a tabloid.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06 ... ishing-cr/

Joe Mckay
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Re: Copperfield being sued (and his illusion exposed)

Postby Joe Mckay » June 5th, 2016, 1:10 pm

Thanks to drastic cost cutting - The Telegraph is in terminal decline.

It is pretty much a tabloid these days. Most of its stories are taken from The Daily Mail or YouTube.

They even stopped comments on the site so that nobody can point out how poor the paper is these days.

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AJM
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Re: Copperfield being sued (and his illusion exposed)

Postby AJM » June 5th, 2016, 1:32 pm

I didn't realise people still read newspapers.

Andrew

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CraigMitchell
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Re: Copperfield being sued (and his illusion exposed)

Postby CraigMitchell » June 5th, 2016, 2:09 pm

The least reliable news outlet in the world would be the National Enquirer ;-)

John LeBlanc
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Re: Copperfield being sued (and his illusion exposed)

Postby John LeBlanc » June 5th, 2016, 2:19 pm

AJM wrote:I didn't realise people still read newspapers.


I still tear newspapers, so I hope they continue at least a while longer.

John

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AJM
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Re: Copperfield being sued (and his illusion exposed)

Postby AJM » June 5th, 2016, 3:16 pm

I hope they do too - if only for a good cryptic crossword.
The Scotsman and The Times being the best source in that regard.
Luckily I have a Good Samaritan who still buys papers and clips out the puzzles for me.

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AJM
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Re: Copperfield being sued (and his illusion exposed)

Postby AJM » June 5th, 2016, 3:27 pm

On the topic under discussion, I'm sure there are a growing number of claims from 'traumatised' stage show volunteers these days and perhaps performers should consider the potential risks involved in seeking the assistance of members of the public during a performance.
Sadly, there are too many folks out to make a quick buck these days....

Cheers

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Re: Copperfield being sued (and his illusion exposed)

Postby PapaG » June 5th, 2016, 5:16 pm

The Daily Mail is an appalling rag that has absolutely no regard for truth or morality. It was (in)famously a supporter of Hitler and the Third Reich and it hasn't changed much since.

Joe Mckay
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Re: Copperfield being sued (and his illusion exposed)

Postby Joe Mckay » June 5th, 2016, 5:56 pm

I remember a Chuck Fayne lecture DVD.

He has a brilliant Signed Card on Seat effect. And he said after one performance for a woman - he had the husband accuse him of sexually assaulting his wife. Since the husband assumed the only way the card could be placed under his wife's behind would be in a physically intrusive manner.

Maybe the guy had a screw loose? Who knows.

Anyway - he threatened a lawsuit or something at the performance. And Chuck had to keep him behind after the show to explain to him how the trick worked.

I think even then - the explanation wasn't enough to completely calm him down.

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Doug Thornton
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Re: Copperfield being sued (and his illusion exposed)

Postby Doug Thornton » June 5th, 2016, 6:27 pm

"Mr Copperfield met them in a room after the show asking them not to reveal his stage secrets."

I'm certain the audience members are asked to sign an agreement to not reveal the secret.

I guess there's one in every crowd.
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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Copperfield being sued (and his illusion exposed)

Postby Richard Kaufman » June 5th, 2016, 7:37 pm

I have no idea if David asked the people who participated in 13 to sign an NDA, however if he did, he would have had to ask BEFORE they entered the box. So probably not.

When you make a lot of money and/or are famous, you become a target. It's a pity.
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erdnasephile
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Re: Copperfield being sued (and his illusion exposed)

Postby erdnasephile » June 5th, 2016, 8:27 pm

CraigMitchell wrote:The least reliable news outlet in the world would be the National Enquirer ;-)


Every squirrel finds a nut once in awhile: http://mentalfloss.com/article/24291/7- ... -got-right

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erdnasephile
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Re: Copperfield being sued (and his illusion exposed)

Postby erdnasephile » June 5th, 2016, 8:41 pm

Given that in many US cities, you are liable even if someone falls outside your home if the sidewalk is uneven, you haven't shoveled the snow, there are low hanging branches from your street trees, etc., it would not surprise me in the least if Copperfield gets held liable for injuries suffered by a spectator who tripped and fell while running to the back of the theatre.

I also found it interesting that the plaintiff is claiming that the British National Health Service "lines were too long" as an excuse to get uncompensated treatment here in America.

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Doug Thornton
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Re: Copperfield being sued (and his illusion exposed)

Postby Doug Thornton » June 5th, 2016, 8:52 pm

I stand corrected.
I contacted a magic friend who was randomly chosen to participate in David's show a few years ago. He said that the agreement to keep the illusion a secret was strictly verbal.
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Re: Copperfield being sued (and his illusion exposed)

Postby Jack Shalom » June 5th, 2016, 10:44 pm

Surely someone of Copperfield's stature has insurance for such things?

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Re: Copperfield being sued (and his illusion exposed)

Postby Pepka » June 8th, 2016, 5:33 am

Quite frankly, whether it's true or not, I'm shocked it's taken this long for a suit to come out of this illusion. Many years ago when David still toured, I caught one of the beach balls and as I went onstage, I was asked, (by Homer) if I was a member of the media or a magician. I said magician. I was allowed onstage but David instantly grabbed my arm and pulled me to the side..."Step over here sir..." I sat on a bar stool and watched. I know enough about illusions to know they were LONG gone before the audience suspected a thing. I've performed on that stage myself and I know of no trap door. I do know that if I would have had to run, I'm so uncoordinated I would have probably fallen too.


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