Wrestling Family Settles WWF Suit

Oct. 31, 2000 -- The family of a wrestler who died after a botched in-ring stunt last year has settled a wrongful deathlawsuit against the World Wrestling Federation.

Owen Hart, who wrestled periodically under a mask as the Blue Blazer, died May 23, 1999, when heplunged 78 feet when the quick-release mechanism on his harnessprematurely opened as he was being lowered into the ring.

The 46-count suit, filed by Hart’s widow Martha, two young childrenand his parents Stu and Helen, contended the stunt was dangerous andpoorly planned and that the harness system was defective.

The settlement, which still needs court approval, was filed Fridaywith the Missouri Court of Appeals. The appeals court had beenscheduled to hold a hearing today in a dispute over a document inthe case.

Neither side disclosed terms of the settlement. A source close to the case told The Kansas City Star the WWF agreed to pay the Harts $18 million.

The WWF and the Hart family issued a joint statement Mondaysaying that the two parties “have come to an amicable agreementsatisfactory to the parties.”

“We are awaiting the court’s approval of the settlement, whichis expected next week. The terms and conditions of the settlementotherwise speak for themselves,” both sides said in the statement.

Not the End of LitigationThe Harts, who lives in Calgary, Alberta, initially sought unspecified damages in the suit. Besides the WWF, there were 12 other defendants named in the suit, including WWF Chairman Vince McMahon, the city of Kansas City (because the death occurred in the city’s Kemper Arena), the companies that manufactured or sold the harness system and four riggers who helped set up the stunt.

If approved by the court next week, the settlement may not end the litigation in Hart’s death. In announcing the settlement, the WWF said it would “continue the case” against the manufacturers and sellers of the rigging device.

Hart, 34 and a 12-year veteran of wrestling, was part of a legendary wrestling family in Canada. His father Stu is a former wrestler and promoter, and has helped train dozens of other wrestlers. Hart was killed during an pay-for-viewtelevision event called “Over the Edge.” His fatal plunge was not seen by television viewers but was witnessed by thousands of fans in attendance. His death sparked debate over whether the professionally wrestling industry was going too far and making wrestlers take unnecessary risks to entertain its audience.ABC affiliate KMBC in Kansas City, Missouri and The Associated Press contributed to this report.