The illusionist David Copperfield has been found negligent but not financially responsible for a British tourist’s injuries during a signature vanishing act that used participants from the audience of a show in Las Vegas in 2013.

Gavin Cox and his wife, Minh-Hahn Cox, alleged negligence by the multimillionaire magician, the MGM Grand hotel, two Copperfield business entities and a construction firm that was renovating the hotel.

In a complex verdict reached after several weeks of testimony but only about two hours of deliberation, the state civil court jury in Las Vegas found negligence by Copperfield, the hotel and Copperfield’s company, Backstage Disappearing.

But jurors found no liability for each of those named in the lawsuit, and instead found Cox 100% responsible for his injuries. The verdict means the Coxes cannot seek monetary damages.

Cox testified that he suffered brain and other injuries in a fall while stagehands urged him and others to run during an illusion that appeared to make as many as 13 audience volunteers disappear onstage and reappear moments later, waving flashlights in the back of the theatre.

His lawyer, Benedict Morelli, told jurors during closing arguments that the trick was inherently dangerous, and that Copperfield should be held partially liable for Cox’s injuries. Four years ago, attorneys estimated that Cox had that racked up more than $400,000 in medical costs.

Copperfield’s lawyers lost a bid to close the courtroom to the public to prevent disclosure of secrets about the illusion. At least 55,000 audience volunteers had taken part in the trick over 17 years, according to Copperfield and the show’s executive producer, Chris Kenner.

Jurors learned that in about 60 to 90 seconds, stagehands ushered the randomly chosen participants past dark curtains, down passageways, around corners, outdoors, indoors and through a kitchen to re-enter the theatre for the show’s finale.

“I was having a good time up until the time I was injured,” Cox testified.

Cox, 57, a former chef from Kent, said he fell hard on his right side and could not recall getting up to finish the illusion in November 2013.

Afterward, Cox said he received medical treatment from paramedics and at a hospital for shoulder and other injuries.

Copperfield said no one had ever been hurt in nearly 20 years performing the illusion. He said he stopped performing it in 2015.





