David Copperfield Goes to Trial in NevadaInside MagicMagic News Updated Daily for the Professional Magician

Jury Expected to Deliberate Today

Because David is a resident of Nevada and his business, David Copperfield Disappearing, Inc. is also based in Nevada, the case against Fireman’s Fund of California was brought in Federal Court in Nevada. Both sides presented their closing arguments to the jury and the deliberations were expected to start today (Tuesday). Copperfield claims that he spent $500,000.00 to a company linked to the Russian Mafia in an attempt to retrieve his equipment and that under the terms of his insurance policy, Fireman’s Fund should reimburse him for the costs. Obviously, Fireman’s Fund saw it differently. The insurer claimed that Copperfield was actually an estranged business partner with the Russian company. The insurer’s attorney argued that Copperfield hired the Russian company, called Ris LisS, was to manage and promote part of Copperfield’s international tour. Copperfield’s lawyer told the jury that Copperfield paid Ris LisS $250,000.00 to get documents to allow him to ship more than $4,000,000.00 worth of his props out of Russia. She argued that Ris LisS was a “powerful organization with strong criminal and strong political ties” in Russia. As Copperfield finished his last show on the Russian Tour, Ris LisS took the documents and extorted money from the Master Magician by threatening to destroy his equipment. Fireman’s Fund saw it differentlyThe insurer claimed Ris LisS and Copperfield’s relationship fell apart when the company was forced to pay $150,000.00 before Copperfield would appear in Moscow. The insurance company claimed that when they asked about information or files related to the case, Copperfield’s aides refused to give the material. Fireman’s Fund denied Copperfield’s claim of over $500,000.00 spent to retrieve the props because the policy did not cover losses resulting from “seizure or destruction of property by orders of a governmental authority.” Copperfield, on the other hand, claimed a breach of the insurance contract and the duty to handle the claim in good faith. On Copperfield’s website, http://www.davidcopperfield.com, he provided this question and answer in the “Rumors” section:Q: Is it true that the Russian Mob held your equipment hostage?A: The Russian people are great. But when they got rid of the Commies, they brought in the Sopranos. I can’t deny reports about my equipment being held hostage, but I won’t comment on them either. I don’t want to wind up in a box next to Lenin. You figure out the rest.

Jury Expected to Deliberate Today