Community Corner
Magician Sues Photographer After Getting Burned During Magazine Shoot
Special effects gone bad: Tyler Shields poured gasoline on the arms of Joseph Rehaume and set them on fire, which spread to his unprotected hands, according to the lawsuit.
A magician professionally known as Magic Joe is suing a celebrity photographer for allegedly setting his arms and legs afire during a magazine photo shoot.
Joseph Rehaume filed the lawsuit Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court against Tyler Shields, alleging negligence, battery, negligent misrepresentation and fraud and seeking unspecified damages.
A representative for Shields could not be immediately reached.
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According to the complaint, Shields promised to safely use fire during a photo shoot of Rehaume for Ladygunn magazine in August 2012.
According to the suit, Shields told Rehaume, "We'll have to hold your arms out and we'll have a little flame on your arms. I've done it like six times for commercials, TV and for a bunch of shoots."
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During the actual photo session in an industrial section of Los Angeles, Shields applied fire safety gel to Rehaume's long-sleeve shirt, then told the magician to rub it on his hands, the suit states. Shields then asked his assistant to pour gasoline on Rehaume's arms, even though the plaintiff expressed concern, the plaintiff alleges.
After the assistant assured Rehaume he would be fine and set his arms afire, the flames accidentally spread to his hands, according to his court papers.
"Plaintiff frantically tried to put out the fire by waving his arms according to Shields' instructions," according to the lawsuit. "The flames would not extinguish."
Rehaume says he then tried to put out the fire using his legs, but they also caught fire.
Members of Shields' crew used dirt to put out the flames, but the skin on Rehaume's hands "burned, melted and wrapped around his fingers, causing him severe pain," according to his suit. Rehaume says he ended up in a hospital emergency room.
According to the plaintiff, Shields said the crew did not need to have a fire extinguisher on hand because they are "worse than fires."
Rehaume has performed during an NBA halftime show and on cable television, according to his lawsuit.
--City News Service
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