Rick Springfield Exonerated in Unusual Personal Injury Case Involving His Butt

In mid-January, the New York Supreme Court exonerated Rick Springfield in an unusual personal injury case, in which a fan alleged that contact with the performer’s butt caused her to suffer “serious, disabling, and permanent injuries.”

Plaintiff Vicki Calcagno alleged that, while at a concert at the New York State Fair in 2004, struck her head with his buttocks from stage, and the impact was so serious that she passed out. She filed a personal injury lawsuit against the 1980’s pop star singer and actor in 2007, because the impact caused serious head and neck trauma.

In 2013, the judge in the case declared a mistrial when a witness in the trial alleged that she suffered the same type of personal injury after coming in contact with Springfield’s butt.

Against advice, Springfield refused to settle the personal injury lawsuit and as of 2015, has been exonerated of the charges. “This woman claimed that I hit her with my ass and knocked her to the ground during a show. She was claiming all these damages. I mean, I work out, but my ass isn’t that hard! So I figured that it was kind of bogus,” he said.

When questioned during the trial, Springfield admitted that he sometimes presented his backside to audience members so that they could grab him. The 65-year-old singer said that it is a common experience for him at concerts because women often “grab my butt if they’re feeling a little saucy.”

Personal Injury Claims in South Carolina

Often, public perception of personal injury lawsuits insinuates that plaintiffs are seeking large amounts of cash quickly, and are not actually injured because of an individual or business’s negligence. However, the truth is that in many cases, the plaintiff needs financial help with on-going medical bills or lost wages due to an accident, and if they believe that their personal injury was intentional or caused by negligence, then they may pursue a personal injury lawsuit to help them with future expenses.

A personal injury plaintiff may be entitled to an award of the costs for future medical care for permanent injuries. Typically, this must be proven with expert testimony. Most states allow additional recovery when an injury interferes with a plaintiff’s ability to lead a normal life. With an elderly client, this could mean the ability to play with one’s grandchildren, to walk and exercise as one did prior to an injury, to communicate meaningfully with others, or to engage in pastimes one previously enjoyed.

Although one might not think that mental anguish is something that will be addressed or compensated in a civil action, this is not so. Monetary damages may be awarded for a nursing home resident’s (or his or her survivor’s) pain, suffering, disfigurement, and impaired enjoyment of life. Damages awarded for the pain someone suffers can be for both physical and mental pain.

The Strom Law Firm Can Help With Personal Injury Claims

Although many of the people we represent in these cases are from right here in South Carolina, our lawyers routinely take clients from throughout the Southeastern U.S. and, in certain types of product liability or pharmaceutical cases, from across the country as well. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed through no fault of your own, contact the South Carolina personal injury attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, L.L.C today for a free consultation today. 803.252.4800