Midnight Rider’s first assistant director Hillary Schwartz, who in March 2015 was sentenced to 10 years probation for criminal trespass and felony involuntary manslaughter for her role in the death of 27 year-old camera assistant Sarah Jones, this morning asked a Georgia Judge to end her probation now. The Judge has not yet ruled on the motion (read it here).
Under terms of the original sentence she was given, Schwartz would not serve any prison time, but could not be a director or assistant director. She could, however, be a producer in a capacity other than overseeing the safety of others.
The motion states that Schwartz “has been employed outside of the film industry with no intention of returning to her prior career.” Like director Randall Miller before her who asked for his court-imposed three-year supervision to be removed, she is also seeking a lighter punishment. Schwartz’s Georgia lawyer Todd Brooks...
Under terms of the original sentence she was given, Schwartz would not serve any prison time, but could not be a director or assistant director. She could, however, be a producer in a capacity other than overseeing the safety of others.
The motion states that Schwartz “has been employed outside of the film industry with no intention of returning to her prior career.” Like director Randall Miller before her who asked for his court-imposed three-year supervision to be removed, she is also seeking a lighter punishment. Schwartz’s Georgia lawyer Todd Brooks...
- 12/19/2018
- by Anita Busch
- Deadline Film + TV
Csx’s petition for a new trial in the case of Midnight Rider and the death of Sarah Jones has been denied by Chatham County State Court Judge Gregory V. Sapp. Csx had filed a motion for a new trial after losing a civil case this past summer to the parents of 27-year-old crew member Sarah Jones, killed on a Ga train trestle in 2014 while filming the Greg Allman biopic Midnight Rider.
“The Court disagrees with Csx’s argument that there was no evidence Csx violated the applicable standard of care,” Judge Sapp wrote in his order. “To the extent the jury found that Csx engaged in willful or wanton conduct, there is some evidence to support this finding … and there was some evidence for the jury to find that Csx employees were negligent in failing to report the trespassers or take additional precautions to avoid injuring them.”
Evidence presented...
“The Court disagrees with Csx’s argument that there was no evidence Csx violated the applicable standard of care,” Judge Sapp wrote in his order. “To the extent the jury found that Csx engaged in willful or wanton conduct, there is some evidence to support this finding … and there was some evidence for the jury to find that Csx employees were negligent in failing to report the trespassers or take additional precautions to avoid injuring them.”
Evidence presented...
- 4/27/2018
- by Anita Busch
- Deadline Film + TV
The trial between Sarah Jones’ family and railroad company Csx has come to an end. The jury has found Csx liable in the death of the 27-year-old camera assistant. Jones’ family has won $11.2 million, including $2M for pain and suffering and over $9M for economic losses. Jones was killed and six others were injured after a 2014 accident on the set of “Midnight Rider” outside Doctortown, Georgia.
The incident occurred on February 20, 2014. Producers on the movie assured cast and crew that filming a scene on a railroad trestle above the Altamaha River was safe, but a train came speeding down the tracks at 58 mph during production, giving the crew less than one minute to evacuate the location. The train ran into a metal bed being used by the crew and Jones was struck by shrapnel that propelled her toward the moving train.
Jones’ family sued Csx, claiming they did not follow...
The incident occurred on February 20, 2014. Producers on the movie assured cast and crew that filming a scene on a railroad trestle above the Altamaha River was safe, but a train came speeding down the tracks at 58 mph during production, giving the crew less than one minute to evacuate the location. The train ran into a metal bed being used by the crew and Jones was struck by shrapnel that propelled her toward the moving train.
Jones’ family sued Csx, claiming they did not follow...
- 7/17/2017
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
An online petition has been launched calling on the DGA to expel Randall Miller, Jay Sedrish and Hillary Schwartz from the union's ranks. All three were convicted of involuntary manslaughter in March in connection with the death of camera assistant Sarah Jones last year on the set of Midnight Rider. Miller, the film's director, is serving a two-year jail sentence, and the conditions of his plea bargain state he can’t work as a director for 10 years. Schwartz, the film's…...
- 12/10/2015
- Deadline
William Hurt says he had an odd feeling when they got on the Doctortown train trestle on the first day of filming Midnight Rider but trusted first assistant director Hillary Schwartz when she said they were safe. But what happened after that was a complete nightmare, he told Canadian Press this morning. Sarah Jones, a 27-year-old camera assistant, was killed when a train plowed into the props lying perpendicular on the tracks. Randall Miller, Jay Sedrish and Schwartz…...
- 6/25/2015
- Deadline
The brief video recorded and shown above was taken in the chaotic seconds before a Csx train plowed through a set for the film Midnight Rider, killing crew member Sarah Jones. It was shown during today’s hearing on the plea bargain of first assistant director Hillary Schwartz, who agreed to 10 years of probation in exchange for her guilty plea. The crashing sound is of the train hitting the hospital gurney, sending shrapnel flying and contributing to Jones’ death. A…...
- 3/11/2015
- Deadline
Update, 9:52 Am with more details: Midnight Rider’s first assistant director Hillary Schwartz was found guilty of criminal trespass and involuntary manslaughter today and will receive 10 years probation and no prison time. Under terms of the deal, she cannot be a director or assistant director, but she can be a producer in a capacity other than overseeing the safety of others. She also was slapped with a $5,000 fine. Schwartz was the final phase of the criminal trial in…...
- 3/10/2015
- Deadline
‘Midnight Rider’ Trial: Assistant Director Hillary Schwartz Found Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter
“Midnight Rider” first assistant director Hillary Schwartz was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass on Tuesday, the Wayne County District Attorney’s office told TheWrap. Schwartz, however, won’t do any jail time for the charges stemming from the death of camera assistant Sarah Jones (pictured above). Instead, she was sentenced to 10 years probation and must pay a $5,000 fine. Also Read: ‘Midnight Rider’ Sentencing Draws Sharp Response From Cinematographers Guild: No Movie ‘Is Worth a Life’ Under the terms of her probation, she cannot serve as a director, producer, first assistant director or any department head responsible for crew safety on any film.
- 3/10/2015
- by Greg Gilman
- The Wrap
Hillary Schwartz, the 1st A.D. on "Midnight Rider," was tried in Wayne County superior court on Tuesday for involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass in the case of the death of Sarah Jones, the camera assistant who was killed during the film's production. Judge Anthony Harrison found her guilty on both counts, involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass. She was sentenced to a $5,000 fine, ten year's probation and restricted from acting as a director, producer, first assistant director or any department head with safety responsibilities. Read More: "Midnight Rider" Director Randall Miller Changes Plea to Guilty Jones was killed and eight other workers were injured while trying to escape an oncoming freight train during the filming of a scene on the tracks of a train trestle in Georgia on Feb. 20, 2014 for the biopic based on the life of musician Gregg Allman. The accident spawned a series of debates over the unspoken dangers crew.
- 3/10/2015
- by Paula Bernstein
- Indiewire
Jesup, Georgia — Midnight Rider first assistant director Hillary Schwartz was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass on Tuesday. She was sentenced to 10 years' probation and a $5,000 fine. Under the terms of her probation, she cannot serve as a director, producer, first A.D. or any department head responsible for crew safety on any film or TV production. Schwartz, who pled not guilty when she was indicted in September, appeared in Wayne County superior court on Tuesday, where she waived her right to a jury and received a bench trial. Read More 'Midnight Rider' Trial: Sarah
read more...
read more...
- 3/10/2015
- by Austin Siegemund-Broka
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Update, 3:15 Pm: Midnight Rider first assistant director Hillary Schwartz’s lawyers have reached a settlement agreement with the Wayne County (Ga) District Attorney and a sentencing hearing is scheduled for 10 Am Et tomorrow. No further information was made known. Schwartz was the fourth member of the film crew to be indicted on criminal trespassing and involuntary manslaughter charges after the death of Sarah Jones during the first day of production on the Gregg Allman…...
- 3/9/2015
- Deadline
Update: A judge has found Midnight Rider's first assistant director, Hillary Schwartz, guilty of criminal trespass and involuntary manslaughter after a brief hearing, according to Variety. He sentenced her to 10 years probation. She must also pay a $5,000 fine and is prohibited from working as producer, director, first assistant director or any other job overseeing safety.
Following the death of camera assistant Sarah Jones on the Georgia set of the Gregg Allman biopic Midnight Rider, director Randall Miller and the film's primary producers were charged with involuntary manslaughter and criminal...
Following the death of camera assistant Sarah Jones on the Georgia set of the Gregg Allman biopic Midnight Rider, director Randall Miller and the film's primary producers were charged with involuntary manslaughter and criminal...
- 3/9/2015
- Rollingstone.com
Midnight Rider director Randall Miller will stand trial for the death of a young camera assistant on set.
Shooting had only just started when a freight train travelling at 55mph hit crew on a Georgia railroad bridge, injuring six and killing 27 year old Sarah Jones on February 20 2014.
According to Billboard, Miller will face a trial along with his business partner wife Jody Savin and the movie's executive producer Jay Sedrish and could be facing up to 11 years in a Georgia prison if a jury decides Jones' death was the result of a criminal act.
All three have pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespassing.
Railroad company Csx Transportation which owns the bridge where the crash occurred, has said it twice denied the filmmakers permission to shoot on its tracks in rural southeast Georgia.
Under state law, a person can be convicted of involuntary manslaughter for committing a misdemeanor i.
Shooting had only just started when a freight train travelling at 55mph hit crew on a Georgia railroad bridge, injuring six and killing 27 year old Sarah Jones on February 20 2014.
According to Billboard, Miller will face a trial along with his business partner wife Jody Savin and the movie's executive producer Jay Sedrish and could be facing up to 11 years in a Georgia prison if a jury decides Jones' death was the result of a criminal act.
All three have pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespassing.
Railroad company Csx Transportation which owns the bridge where the crash occurred, has said it twice denied the filmmakers permission to shoot on its tracks in rural southeast Georgia.
Under state law, a person can be convicted of involuntary manslaughter for committing a misdemeanor i.
- 3/7/2015
- Digital Spy
Exclusive: In a pretrial hearing this morning in a Georgia courtroom, Midnight Rider first assistant director Hillary Schwartz’s attorney successfully pried Schwartz out of next month’s trial of three other defendants. All are facing charges of criminal trespassing and manslaughter in the death of 27 year-old crew member Sarah Jones when a train plowed through the film’s set. Above, Deadline has exclusive video of the short hearing, part of decisions handed down today by…...
- 2/27/2015
- Deadline
Midnight Rider‘s first assistant director Hillary Schwartz, who was seeking to have the criminal trespass and manslaughter charges against her dismissed in the on-set death of Sarah Jones, will have to wait until a later date to find out if that will be possible; her pre-trial hearing on that motion was continued. However, her lawyer succeeded in having her case severed from that of her former colleagues who have also been charged, which means that she could be called as…...
- 2/26/2015
- Deadline
A judge in Chatham County, Georgia today denied rail company Csx’s request to prohibit photographs and video evidence from further public dissemination in the wrongful death case of Midnight Rider crew member Sarah Jones. The November 12 motion was filed after an October 31 episode of ABC News’ 20/20 aired partial train footage filmed the afternoon of February 20, 2014 when Jones was struck and killed by a Csx train on the Doctortown trestle in rural Georgia.
That footage had been submitted to the court as evidence in the ongoing civil case brought by Jones’ parents against a number of defendants including Csx, director Randall Miller, producer Jody Savin, and others, most of whom have since been dismissed after reaching settlements with the Jones family.
Related: ‘Midnight Rider’ Crew Kept In Dark Over Safety, Federal Investigation Reveals
Those settlements left Csx as the biggest remaining defendant in an increasingly contentious legal skirmish with the Jones camp.
That footage had been submitted to the court as evidence in the ongoing civil case brought by Jones’ parents against a number of defendants including Csx, director Randall Miller, producer Jody Savin, and others, most of whom have since been dismissed after reaching settlements with the Jones family.
Related: ‘Midnight Rider’ Crew Kept In Dark Over Safety, Federal Investigation Reveals
Those settlements left Csx as the biggest remaining defendant in an increasingly contentious legal skirmish with the Jones camp.
- 1/6/2015
- by Jen Yamato
- Deadline
Will evidence in the ongoing Midnight Rider civil case be sealed after next week? An emergency hearing has been set for Friday morning in Georgia’s Chatham County court to address rail company Csx’s recent move to keep further photo and video evidence from going public. That request follows October’s major media reveal of footage from the February 20 train collision that killed 27-year-old camera assistant Sarah Jones and injured several other crew members working on the Gregg Allman biopic.
The motion will be heard by Judge Gregory V. Sapp on Friday, December 12 at 10:00 Am.
A persistent point of contention between the two has involved the action taken by Csx representatives before, during, and after the accident, which occurred when a Csx train hit a hospital bed and equipment the film’s crew had placed across active tracks without permission. Csx provided camera footage from three of four...
The motion will be heard by Judge Gregory V. Sapp on Friday, December 12 at 10:00 Am.
A persistent point of contention between the two has involved the action taken by Csx representatives before, during, and after the accident, which occurred when a Csx train hit a hospital bed and equipment the film’s crew had placed across active tracks without permission. Csx provided camera footage from three of four...
- 12/5/2014
- by Jen Yamato
- Deadline
Rail company Csx has taken heat for failing to provide footage from a fourth train that traversed the Doctortown trestle the afternoon of the fatal accident that killed Midnight Rider camera assistant Sarah Jones. But in a court filing this week the company explained they aren’t hiding anything – because they don’t even have the so-called “missing tape.”
Deflecting another volley in the ongoing wrongful death civil case brought by Jones’ parents, Csx revealed the timeline of the three Csx trains that passed the site of the collision before a fourth locomotive struck equipment and a hospital bed the crew had set up on the tracks in rural Georgia. (Read the Csx response here.) Jones was killed and several others injured when train Q12519 hit, while others made narrow escapes off the train bridge with only seconds to spare.
According to Csx, a total of three trains – and not two,...
Deflecting another volley in the ongoing wrongful death civil case brought by Jones’ parents, Csx revealed the timeline of the three Csx trains that passed the site of the collision before a fourth locomotive struck equipment and a hospital bed the crew had set up on the tracks in rural Georgia. (Read the Csx response here.) Jones was killed and several others injured when train Q12519 hit, while others made narrow escapes off the train bridge with only seconds to spare.
According to Csx, a total of three trains – and not two,...
- 12/3/2014
- by Jen Yamato
- Deadline
Court records in the ongoing wrongful death case of Sarah Jones should remain unsealed, the family of the Midnight Rider camera assistant argued today, calling rail company Csx’s attempt to stop further details from escaping into the media “groundless,” “frivolous,” “desperate” and “malicious.”
The back-and-forth between lawyers for the railroad company and the grieving Joneses has become increasingly accusatory in recent months. After Midnight Rider‘s director, producers and several other co-defendants reached a settlement with the family last month, Csx has remained the biggest — and most contentious — party still in the hot seat over Jones’ February 20 death during filming on a train trestle in rural Georgia.
In a strongly worded November 12 motion, defendant Csx asked a Chatham County judge to seal case findings and silence the Joneses’ lawyers from talking to the press about the civil case. Csx also accused the Jones legal team of leaking train-camera footage...
The back-and-forth between lawyers for the railroad company and the grieving Joneses has become increasingly accusatory in recent months. After Midnight Rider‘s director, producers and several other co-defendants reached a settlement with the family last month, Csx has remained the biggest — and most contentious — party still in the hot seat over Jones’ February 20 death during filming on a train trestle in rural Georgia.
In a strongly worded November 12 motion, defendant Csx asked a Chatham County judge to seal case findings and silence the Joneses’ lawyers from talking to the press about the civil case. Csx also accused the Jones legal team of leaking train-camera footage...
- 12/1/2014
- by Jen Yamato
- Deadline
Despite settling with the family of camera assistant Sarah Jones last week, Midnight Rider’s director and producer are still trying to escape the sights of rail company Csx. Randall Miller and Jody Savin today asked a Georgia court to dismiss them and their business entities from a cross-claim by Csx, whose remaining involvement in the ongoing civil suit filed by Jones’ family has kept the filmmakers tethered to the wrongful death case.
Csx accused Miller, Savin, Unclaimed Freight Productions, and Film Allman, LLC in September of intentional trespassing leading up to the February 20 death of 27-year-old camera assistant Jones. Jones died and several others were injured when a freight train collided into a hospital bed and equipment that the Midnight Rider crew had placed on Csx-owned tracks.
Now that Miller and Savin have settled with Jones’ parents, they’re arguing that their lingering battle with Csx is “essentially a...
Csx accused Miller, Savin, Unclaimed Freight Productions, and Film Allman, LLC in September of intentional trespassing leading up to the February 20 death of 27-year-old camera assistant Jones. Jones died and several others were injured when a freight train collided into a hospital bed and equipment that the Midnight Rider crew had placed on Csx-owned tracks.
Now that Miller and Savin have settled with Jones’ parents, they’re arguing that their lingering battle with Csx is “essentially a...
- 11/26/2014
- by Jen Yamato
- Deadline
The lawyer for the family of Sarah Jones said today that it has reached an agreement with Midnight Rider director Randall Miller, his wife and producer Jody Savin, and several crewmembers in the wrongful death civil lawsuit filed after their daughter was killed during production in February on a train trestle in rural Georgia.
Attorney Jeff Harris said the confidential agreement had been reached with Miller, Savin, their Unclaimed Freight production company, location manager Charles Baxter, unit production manager/executive producer Jay Sedrish and Jay Sedrish Inc, executive producer and financier Don Mandrick, first assistant director Hillary Schwartz, director of photography Mike Ozier, Epozier Films Inc and landowner Rayonier Performance Fibers Llc.
“Richard and Elizabeth Jones’ objectives in filing this lawsuit, after the death of their 27-year-old daughter, Sarah, have been clear and unwavering,” said Harris. “To find out what happened on the day of their daughter’s death, determine who was responsible,...
Attorney Jeff Harris said the confidential agreement had been reached with Miller, Savin, their Unclaimed Freight production company, location manager Charles Baxter, unit production manager/executive producer Jay Sedrish and Jay Sedrish Inc, executive producer and financier Don Mandrick, first assistant director Hillary Schwartz, director of photography Mike Ozier, Epozier Films Inc and landowner Rayonier Performance Fibers Llc.
“Richard and Elizabeth Jones’ objectives in filing this lawsuit, after the death of their 27-year-old daughter, Sarah, have been clear and unwavering,” said Harris. “To find out what happened on the day of their daughter’s death, determine who was responsible,...
- 11/19/2014
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline
Updated With ABC News Statement: Two weeks after shocking footage from the train that killed Midnight Rider camera assistant Sarah Jones was revealed on the Oct. 31 episode of ABC’s 20/20, railroad company Csx is hitting back against the Jones family lawyers. In a motion filed this week in the ongoing wrongful death case against Csx and over a dozen other defendants (read it here), Csx accused Jones’ lawyers of slipping the train footage to ABC News and asked a Georgia court to block any further evidence from going public pre-trial.
The 20/20 episode aired footage from a camera on the train that was heading from Savannah to Manchester, Georgia on the afternoon of February 20. The segment revealed that the locomotive needed a mile to stop, and began sounding its whistle 26 seconds before impact. Stars William Hurt and Wyatt Russell can be seen attempting to get to safety along with other crew...
The 20/20 episode aired footage from a camera on the train that was heading from Savannah to Manchester, Georgia on the afternoon of February 20. The segment revealed that the locomotive needed a mile to stop, and began sounding its whistle 26 seconds before impact. Stars William Hurt and Wyatt Russell can be seen attempting to get to safety along with other crew...
- 11/13/2014
- by Jen Yamato
- Deadline
The family of Sarah Jones said today that it has reached an agreement with Midnight Rider distributor Open Road Films and producers Gregg Allman and Michael Lehman to be dropped from their civil lawsuit over the death of the camera assistant on the set of the Allman biopic.
The news comes after lawyers for Open Road told a Georgia judge on Tuesday during a motions hearing that it was close to an agreement with Jones’ family. The hearing was continued to November 13.
“This [suit] is about the production and Open Road is a distributor — we only deal with things once the film is made, there is no reason for us to be here,” Open Road lawyer Marvin Putnam said following Tuesday’s hearing in Savannah. “And I think that is what the recordings and the papers will reflect.”
Said Jones family attorney Jeff Harris today in a release: “This firm was...
The news comes after lawyers for Open Road told a Georgia judge on Tuesday during a motions hearing that it was close to an agreement with Jones’ family. The hearing was continued to November 13.
“This [suit] is about the production and Open Road is a distributor — we only deal with things once the film is made, there is no reason for us to be here,” Open Road lawyer Marvin Putnam said following Tuesday’s hearing in Savannah. “And I think that is what the recordings and the papers will reflect.”
Said Jones family attorney Jeff Harris today in a release: “This firm was...
- 10/30/2014
- by The Deadline Team
- Deadline
Exclusive: New, surprising details have emerged about the on-set death of 27-year-old camerawoman Sarah Jones during the first day of filming on Midnight Rider. Crew members were not told about an email from railroad owner Csx denying them permission to shoot on the Doctortown train trestle in rural Georgia, as at least 20 members piled onto the tracks 25 to 30 feet above the water under dangerous conditions led by director Randall Miller. See newly released pictures below to see (up close) the train tracks they shot on and the small walkway. The train accident left Jones dead and eight others injured, three of them hospitalized. Specific details of what happened on the tracks on the afternoon of February 20 were revealed in a play-by-play report by the Department of Labor’s Occupational Health and Safety Administration, which was considered the lead investigating body on the case.
The 182-page investigative report (read it here...
The 182-page investigative report (read it here...
- 10/30/2014
- by Anita Busch and Jen Yamato
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: New, surprising details have emerged about the on-set death of 27-year-old camerawoman Sarah Jones during the first day of filming on Midnight Rider. Crew members were not told about an email from railroad owner Csx denying them permission to shoot on the Doctortown train trestle in rural Georgia, as at least 20 members piled onto the tracks 25 to 30 feet above the water under dangerous conditions led by director Randall Miller. See newly released pictures below to see (up close) the train tracks they shot on and the small walkway. The train accident left Jones dead and eight others injured, three of them hospitalized. Specific details of what happened on the tracks on the afternoon of February 20 were revealed in a play-by-play report by the Department of Labor’s Occupational Health and Safety Administration, which was considered the lead investigating body on the case.
The 182-page investigative report (read it here...
The 182-page investigative report (read it here...
- 10/30/2014
- by Anita Busch and Jen Yamato
- Deadline
A motions hearing as part of the civil suit filed on behalf of Midnight Rider camera assistant Sarah Jones was pushed back this morning in Savannah, Ga, after lawyers for the film’s distributor Open Road Films revealed they were in talks with Jones’ family for a resolution that could come as soon as Tuesday.
Chatham County Judge Gregory Sapp continued the motions hearing to November 13 to wrap a hearing that lasted less than 10 minutes.
Among the key motions to be decided in the civil suit filed by Jones’ family against Open Road, landowner Rayonier Performance Fibers and a dozen others is whether Open Road and production entity Film Allman should be dismissed from the action. Open Road attorneys told Sapp this morning that the distributor and the family were in talks for a resolution, after which Sapp issued the continuance. No other motions were addressed.
Jones’ parents’ suit claims...
Chatham County Judge Gregory Sapp continued the motions hearing to November 13 to wrap a hearing that lasted less than 10 minutes.
Among the key motions to be decided in the civil suit filed by Jones’ family against Open Road, landowner Rayonier Performance Fibers and a dozen others is whether Open Road and production entity Film Allman should be dismissed from the action. Open Road attorneys told Sapp this morning that the distributor and the family were in talks for a resolution, after which Sapp issued the continuance. No other motions were addressed.
Jones’ parents’ suit claims...
- 10/28/2014
- by Patty Leon, Special To Deadline
- Deadline
Update: The Pledge to Sarah app, designed to boost safety on film and TV sets in memory of Midnight Rider camera assistant Sarah Jones, is now available in the Mac and Android app stores as well as on the Pledge to Sarah website. It was created and crowdfunded by a group of anonymous production crew following the February 20 train tragedy that killed Jones and injured several other crew members.
“The site Pledge to Sarah and the Set Safety App were created because we believe that no one should ever lose their life due to an incident on a film production,” organizers said. “Whether it is an on-set safety issue or an exhausted drive home at the end of a long day, we all need to speak up and be heard.”
Previous Exclusive, Oct. 3: The free app created in honor of fallen Midnight Rider camera assistant Sarah Jones has debuted...
“The site Pledge to Sarah and the Set Safety App were created because we believe that no one should ever lose their life due to an incident on a film production,” organizers said. “Whether it is an on-set safety issue or an exhausted drive home at the end of a long day, we all need to speak up and be heard.”
Previous Exclusive, Oct. 3: The free app created in honor of fallen Midnight Rider camera assistant Sarah Jones has debuted...
- 10/15/2014
- by Jen Yamato
- Deadline
Hillary Schwartz, an assistant director on the film “Midnight Rider,” became the fourth filmmaker charged with crimes stemming from the on-set train accident that killed crew member Sarah Jones. Schwartz pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to charges of involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespassing in Georgia's Wayne County Superior Court. She was indicted earlier in September on the same charges brought in July against director Randall Miller; his wife and business partner, Jody Savin; and the movie's executive producer, Jay Sedrish. Also read: ‘Midnight Rider’ Producers Cited for Willful and Serious Safety Violations by Osha A tentative trial date of was set for March 9 for.
- 9/30/2014
- by Gina Hall
- The Wrap
Updated With New Info: A trial date of March 9, 2015 has been set in the manslaughter and criminal trespass case of the four filmmakers indicted in the on-set death of 27-year-old Midnight Rider camera assistant Sarah Jones. Pre-trial motions will be heard for two days prior, on February 12-13, and jury selection will start a month later on March 9. The order was issued early this morning by Judge Anthony Harrison in the Wayne County (Ga) Superior Court during a special status conference hearing. All discovery must be entered into the court by December 10, 2014.
Meanwhile, newly indicted first assistant director Hillary Schwartz appeared in the Wayne County Superior Court Tuesday during the status conference attended by all lawyers from those indicted in this case. The court issued orders about further discovery, motions, whether cameras would be allowed in the courtroom (they will be via Rule 22 with five days notice), and other procedural issues.
Meanwhile, newly indicted first assistant director Hillary Schwartz appeared in the Wayne County Superior Court Tuesday during the status conference attended by all lawyers from those indicted in this case. The court issued orders about further discovery, motions, whether cameras would be allowed in the courtroom (they will be via Rule 22 with five days notice), and other procedural issues.
- 9/30/2014
- by Anita Busch and Jen Yamato
- Deadline
The criminal case involving the death of Midnight Rider camera assistant Sarah Jones has been expanded to include first assistant director Hillary Schwartz. Schwartz has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass, the same charges as those filed against director Randall Miller and producers Jody Savin and Jay Sedrish, Miller and Savin's attorney Don Samuel confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. Schwartz was charged on Sept. 10 and is set to be arraigned on Tuesday morning at the Wayne County courthouse, Samuel added. Read more 'Midnight Rider': Sarah Jones Family Says Film's Distributor Can't Be Dismissed From Lawsuit Jones was
read more...
read more...
- 9/29/2014
- by Hilary Lewis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Criminal charges have been filed against Midnight Rider first assistant director Hillary Schwartz in the February 20 death of camera assistant Sarah Jones. Schwartz was charged September 10 with involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass, the same two counts filed against director Randall Miller and producers Jody Savin and Jay Sedrish. Under Georgia law, a manslaughter conviction would carry a sentence of 10 years in prison. Criminal trespass is a misdemeanor and carries a potential sentence of one year.
This will come as no surprise to Hollywood’s production community, who understand that one responsibility of the 1st Ad is to help keep the crew safe on set. Schwartz was on set the day of the accident, though location manager Charley Baxter refused to show up because the production had not obtained permission to access the train tracks and made his opposition known to several crew members before the shoot.
In addition to Jones,...
This will come as no surprise to Hollywood’s production community, who understand that one responsibility of the 1st Ad is to help keep the crew safe on set. Schwartz was on set the day of the accident, though location manager Charley Baxter refused to show up because the production had not obtained permission to access the train tracks and made his opposition known to several crew members before the shoot.
In addition to Jones,...
- 9/29/2014
- by Jen Yamato and Anita Busch
- Deadline
The producers of Gregg Allman biopic Midnight Rider are being sued by the family of a camera assistant who died on set.
Richard and Elizabeth Jones have filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against producers Jody Savin and Randall Miller, after their daughter Sarah Jones was killed by a freight train that crashed into the crew as they were filming on a historic train trestle in Doctortown in February.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Mr and Mrs Jones are seeking "unspecified punitive damages", claiming that Savin, Miller and other parties negligently caused their daughter's death following a series of safety violations
"By committing these acts, or failures to act, the 'Midnight Rider' defendants operated without minimum safety precautions and contrary to standard industry practices for productions of this scale and for productions involving dangerous filming conditions," states the suit, prepared by the Atlanta firm of Harris Penn Lowry.
The...
Richard and Elizabeth Jones have filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against producers Jody Savin and Randall Miller, after their daughter Sarah Jones was killed by a freight train that crashed into the crew as they were filming on a historic train trestle in Doctortown in February.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Mr and Mrs Jones are seeking "unspecified punitive damages", claiming that Savin, Miller and other parties negligently caused their daughter's death following a series of safety violations
"By committing these acts, or failures to act, the 'Midnight Rider' defendants operated without minimum safety precautions and contrary to standard industry practices for productions of this scale and for productions involving dangerous filming conditions," states the suit, prepared by the Atlanta firm of Harris Penn Lowry.
The...
- 5/22/2014
- Digital Spy
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.