Former Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark Player Joshua Kobak Is Suing the Production for $6 Million

Broadway's Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark has another sticky situation on its web-slinging hands. Original cast member Richard Kobak (known by his stage name Joshua Kobak) is suing Live Nation Worldwide and other companies behind the musical for a total of $6 million. According to The Wrap, Kobak claims he was injured during his run with the blockbuster show.

In a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in New York last week, Kobak claims he sustained two herniated discs, a concussion, whiplash and holes in both knees as a result of "equipment, safety devices and other devices that were improperly maintained." According to the complaint, Kobak is taking action against Live Nation Worldwide, the company that supplied "certain equipment, devices, machinery, computers, computer programs, systems, navigation systems, safety devices and all relevant and necessary items" to the production. The suit also names Scott Fisher, the production's aerial designer, who Kobak claims was "responsible for the design, creation, manufacture, fabrication, installation, maintenance, repair and upkeep" of some of those items.

During the show's early previews Kobak replaced Christopher Tierney, who was famously injured after falling 30 feet during a performance. Kobak claims that because of the weight difference between himself and Tierney, the equipment "was improperly calibrated for [his] height, weight and size." This allegedly lead to "repeated violent, hard, harsh and jolting landings over repeated performances" resulting in "severe, serious and permanent injuries that required medical treatment."

In addition to Spider-Man, Kobak has appeared on Broadway in American Idiot, Tarzan and Rent.