British Tourist Seeks to Expose David Copperfield in Court

David Copperfield. Photo courtesy of Bullett Magazine.

Summary: A British tourist is claiming that David Copperfield’s illusion has given him brain damage.

David Copperfield picked the wrong audience member. The world-famous magician is being sued in Manhattan for injuring a tourist during a Vegas show, and the case has the potential to reveal the secrets behind the curtain.

Gavin Cox, 57, said he suffered brain damage during one of Copperfield’s sets at the MGM Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The British tourist was in the audience in 2013 when Copperfield fulfilled the fan’s dream by choosing him to participate in a stunt, where he and others were suspended in a cage before disappearing. Cox said that he and other guests were whisked away through a dark passageway, and he claimed that he tripped on construction debris, slamming his head into the ground. Even more heinous for Cox, he said that when Copperfield was notified, the famous illusionist seemed to not care about his safety.

Cox said that the fall ended his career as a baker and that he is now using a ventilator.

“It’s turned my life upside-down,” Cox said. “I have pretty much constant pain, and my difficulty is my short-term memory.

Cox’s attorney Benedict Morelli said that he expected to expose Copperfield’s illusionist secrets in court. However, a judge has sealed all proprietary information from leaking at this time.

According to The Daily Mail, Cox and Morelli are hoping for a multi-million dollar payday from Copperfield, who reportedly earns $64 million a year.

Copperfield’s lawyer, Theodore Blumberg said that the illusion was safe and had been performed successfully for over 15 years.