Wrongful deaths aren’t limited to workplaces such as construction and maintenance. They could happen in the most unexpected places, like right in front of your television screen. The entertainment industry has not held the best record for workers’ rights over the past two centuries. Even though it can be regarded as a haven for the underrepresented, there is lot of baggage that comes with the billion dollar industry. In terms of safety, many production studios have been called out for their (unofficial) emphasis on keeping budgets low and profits high. This has unfortunately continued well into the 21st century. 

In July of 2017, a longtime professional stuntman by the name of John Bernecker, died on the set of The Walking Dead. He was also a fight coordinator who had racked up more than 90 credits on IMDB. Bernecker was in the middle of taping a stunt scene when he fell 20 feet down and shockingly missed the landing pad he was supposed to end up in, off by only a few inches. He passed away two days later from severe head injuries. AMC Networks, the responsible entity, published a statement in honor and memory of their former employee, but had not specifically commented on their own safety precautions. 

This led Bernecker’s mother, Susan, to sue AMC for wrongful death some months later. She used the lawsuit as an opportunity to improve safety standards for stuntmen in the film and tv industry. “The industry is not doing enough to maintain basic safety guidelines for these performers. Worst of all, they’re scared to speak up.”, Susan said in a news release. The lawsuit further acknowledged that no production safety representative was present on set, going against the same guidelines set by AMC themselves. 

In December of 2019, a Georgian jury finally reached a verdict. They unanimously awarded Bernecker’s estate a total of $8.6 million in damages. AMC Networks, however, was not found responsible for the accident. Instead, two subsidiaries of AMC, Stalwart Films and TWD productions VIII were found negligent, who employed Bernecker as an independent contractor – which allowed his parents to recover civil damages.