George Wallace was awarded $1.3 million in damages yesterday for a leg injury he sustained while performing in Las Vegas in 2007.
The 61-year old comedian testified that he is permanently hobbled after tangling his leg in wiring onstage while performing a private show for HSBC Card Services Inc. In a 6-2 decision the jury found that Bellagio should pay $1.2 million for lost income, $100,000 for pain and suffering and $8,500 for medical expenses.
Wallace had sought $7.1 million, but said he was happy with the decision and would perform for the Bellagio again. However, he was troubled by something that Bellagio attorney Paul Haire presented in the courtroom.
During the closing arguments, Haire showed the jury an image that included Wallace’s face next to a caricature of what appeared to be a dark-skinned child.
Wallace told reporters he saw the cartoon image as a “black caricature with a pickaninny haircut.”
“I just thought it was the lowest thing in my career. I’m sorry that I heard it in a courtroom,” he said. “I’m not sure whether it affected the jury. But it hurt me.”
At the time, Haire was disparaging the testimony of a witness who estimated that Wallace lost millions of dollars as a result of the injury. No further information is given as to the relevance of the image in that context. Haire did not respond to messages about the incident.
Company spokeswoman Mary Hynes said that MGM is reviewing its legal options in light of the verdict.
Wallace also sued HSBC in regards to the incident, but the two parties settled outside of court for an undisclosed amount on March 21.