BEVERLY HILLS, CA — As a trial nears to determine a woman's damages stemming from a 2022 traffic accident with Arnold Schwarzenegger, attorneys for the actor are asking court officials and law enforcement to take appropriate precautions in preparation for their client's appearance in the wake of a recent social media post by the plaintiff's law firm.
In her Beverly Hills Superior Court lawsuit, plaintiff Cheryl Augustine contends the former governor was negligent when his SUV collided with the plaintiff's Toyota Prius at Sunset Boulevard and Allenford Avenue in Los Angeles when the former body builder made a left turn against a red arrow signal on Jan. 21, 2022.
Schwarzenegger, now 79, was traveling so fast that his GMC Yukon lifted up on two wheels, landing primarily on the Prius, but also on a Porsche and another Toyota on Allenford, according to Augustine's attorneys' court papers. Augustine is also suing Schwarzenegger's production company, Oak Productions Inc. Schwarzenegger has conceded negligence, but disputes the amount of damages the woman is seeking.
On Tuesday, the actor's attorneys filed court papers with Judge Edward B. Moreton, Jr. asking that the court set up a management and security protocol for the trial, including that no photography, video or audio recording of any participant will be allowed in the courtroom or in the corridors without written approval from the judge.
The defense attorneys also ask that Schwarzenegger's arrival, departure and seating be coordinated in advance with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and that Augustine pay for any additional security needed because she is the party "whose publicity created the need."
The publicity referred to by the defense lawyers includes a social media post by Augustine attorney Gary A. Dordick's law firm that includes a photograph of Dordick reminiscent of Schwarzenegger in his film role in the 1984 film "The Terminator" in which the lawyer is depicted brandishing a firearm over the words "I'll be back" while wearing dark glasses and a leather jacket, according to Augustine's attorney's court papers, which add that there also is a photo slide of the accident scene.
"Whatever else may be said about the post, it is an advertisement for the appearance of one of the most recognizable people in the world at a fixed place and time, published ... in advance, by a person who has no responsibility for what happens when the audience shows up," the defense attorneys further state in their court papers.
Although Schwarzenegger's attendance at a public courthouse was already a matter of public record, the Dordick firm's post has "amplified it to a far wider audience by design," the defense attorneys further contend.
The First Amendment does protect the post's publication, but it does not relieve the court of responsibility for the courtroom and it does not require that the consequences of a party's publicity be absorbed by the county or by the opposing party, according to the defense attorneys' pleadings.
The collision has caused a significant change in Augustine's personality and personal relations and she will continue to decline as a result of a traumatic brain injury, her attorneys state in their court papers. She has already experienced a substantial personality change which has negatively impacted her interactions with others, and her family relationships have deteriorated because she has become short-tempered, irritable and unreasonable, Augustine's lawyers further state in their court papers.
Trial of Augustine's lawsuit is scheduled for Oct. 12.
Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.
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