Game of Thrones Stuntwoman Wins $9.4M Settlement for Career-Ending Injury

Casey Michaels, a stuntwoman on the final season of Game of Thrones, suffered a career-ending ankle injury during a stunt in 2018, when she fell approximately 12 feet onto a rig of cardboard boxes and mats that had deteriorated after multiple uses. The stunt, which involved 28 performers dropping from a roof as zombies, was reportedly made more dangerous by a change from thicker to thinner mats between takes, a change that Michaels claims was not communicated to the performers. Michaels sued a Warner Bros. Discovery subsidiary in 2021, alleging negligence and unsafe conditions, and settled in 2023 for $9.3 million, with HBO admitting liability but not naming stunt coordinator Rowley Irlam, who denies responsibility. Michaels has spoken out to highlight safety issues in the stunt profession and the tendency within the industry to blame performers for accidents. Despite the settlement and HBO's apology, Michaels remains concerned that the stunt community's failure to acknowledge mistakes could lead to further injuries. The case has drawn attention to the risks stunt performers face and the need for better safety practices on set.