The lawsuit tied to Miguel’s Billboard Awards stage jump was filed in May 2015 by Cindy Tsai, one of two fans he landed on during his performance of “Adorn” at the 2013 show, and it was resolved through private arbitration in January 2016 on terms that were never publicly disclosed.1Pitchfork. When Fans Get Hurt at a Show, Who Pays Up
What Happened Onstage
On May 19, 2013, Miguel performed at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Midway through “Adorn,” he tried to leap from the main stage to a nearby catwalk, clearing a gap where fans were standing below. He came up short. His legs hit two women in the head, and he partially landed on them before making the catwalk.2Courthouse News Service. Miguel’s Stage Leap Lands Him a Lawsuit He had practiced the jump twice in rehearsals.3NME. Miguel Sued by Woman He Landed on at Billboard Music Awards
Tsai later said she “took the brunt” of the kick from Miguel’s trailing leg.4Vulture. Miguel Sued for Kicking Woman at 2013 BMAs
What Tsai Claimed
Tsai filed her complaint in Clark County, Nevada, nearly two years after the incident. She alleged that Miguel “recklessly, carelessly, negligently and violently” slammed into her, striking her head and crushing her into the side of the catwalk.2Courthouse News Service. Miguel’s Stage Leap Lands Him a Lawsuit
Her claims included negligence and negligent hiring, training, and supervision. She sought general and special damages, lost wages for “impaired and diminished earning capacity,” attorney’s fees, and legal costs.2Courthouse News Service. Miguel’s Stage Leap Lands Him a Lawsuit
Who She Sued
Along with Miguel, whose legal name is Miguel Jontel Pimentel, Tsai named several other defendants:
- MGM Grand Hotel, the venue.
- Prometheus Global Media, then the parent company of Billboard.
- Don Mischer Productions, the executive producer of the show.
- Seatfillers and More, which had provided her ticket.
- Twenty unnamed individuals and businesses.1Pitchfork. When Fans Get Hurt at a Show, Who Pays Up
The broad defendant list reflects what live-events insurance professionals call the “shotgun theory” of concert injury litigation. Peter Tempkins, managing director of Hub International, described it this way: “Sue everybody — somebody’ll pay off.”1Pitchfork. When Fans Get Hurt at a Show, Who Pays Up
The Dispute Over Warnings
A key factual dispute concerned whether Miguel had been told not to attempt the jump. Sources connected to the production told TMZ that executive producer Don Mischer had personally spoken with Miguel after rehearsals and told him not to try the leap during the live broadcast.5TMZ. Miguel Billboard Music Awards Jump Injured Fan Miguel’s spokesperson called those reports “completely false.”3NME. Miguel Sued by Woman He Landed on at Billboard Music Awards A source close to the singer told TMZ the opposite: that producers had asked whether he planned to do the jump so camera crews could be positioned to capture it.
How the Case Ended
The lawsuit never reached a public trial. It was moved to private arbitration and officially resolved in January 2016, about eight months after Tsai filed.1Pitchfork. When Fans Get Hurt at a Show, Who Pays Up No settlement amount was disclosed. Available reporting does not indicate whether a confidentiality agreement was part of the resolution, and the terms remain unknown.
The Other Injured Fan
The second woman struck, Khyati Shah, was hit in the back of the head by Miguel’s leg, which slammed her head into the platform.6NBC New York. Miguel Billboard Music Awards Injured Fan Khyati Shah Her attorney, Vip Bhola, said she experienced cognitive difficulties afterward, including memory loss, trouble finding words, and garbled text messages, which raised concern about a neurological head injury. The only treatment she received at the venue, Bhola said, was an ice pack.7PopCrush. Miguel Sued 2013 Billboard Awards Shah never filed suit.8The Guardian. Miguel Faces Lawsuit Following Misjudged Stage Dive
How It Fits the Pattern of Concert Injury Suits
Fan-injury cases at live performances tend to end the way Tsai’s did: broad claims against everyone connected to the event, followed by a private settlement or arbitration rather than a verdict. That pattern has left courts with little binding precedent on when a performer is personally liable for hurting a fan.
One of the rare exceptions was a 2018 jury trial against electronic musician Skrillex. A fan named Jennifer Fraissl was struck during a stage dive at a 2012 Los Angeles concert and had a stroke 16 days later. A jury unanimously found Skrillex, his touring company, and the venue all negligent, awarding $4.5 million. Fault was split among the touring company at 40 percent, Skrillex at 35 percent, the venue at 10 percent, and Fraissl herself at 15 percent.1Pitchfork. When Fans Get Hurt at a Show, Who Pays Up Attorneys involved described it as the first successful jury award in a case arising from a performer’s crowd dive.