Magician Sues Photographer Claiming He Set His Hands, Legs On Fire During Shoot

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A magician is suing a celebrity photographer claiming he set his arms, hands and legs on fire during a magazine photo shoot.

Joseph Rehaume, who goes by the stage name Magic Joe, is suing photographer Tyler Shields in L.A. Superior Court for alleged negligence, battery, negligent misrepresentation and fraud, according to court documents.

The magician says Shields promised to safely use fire during a August 2012 shoot for Ladygunn magazine.

Shields told Rehaume: "We'll have to hold your arms out and we'll have a little flame on your arms. I've done it like six times for commercials, TV and for a bunch of shoots," the plaintiff alleged.

Rehaume met Shields at his studio in an industrial area of L.A., where Shields allegedly applied fire safety gel to the magician's long-sleeved shirt, then told him to rub it on his hands.

The photographer had his assistant pour gasoline on Rehaume's arms, even though the photographer expressed concern, but the assistant assured him he'd be fine, court records stated.

When the magician's arms were set ablaze the flames spread to his hands.

"Plaintiff frantically tried to put out the fire by waving his arms according to Shields' instructions," according to the lawsuit. "The flames would not extinguish."

Rehaume said he then tried to put out the blaze using his legs, but they also caught fire.

Members of Shields' crew used dirt to put out the flames, but the skin on Rehaume's hands "burned, melted and wrapped around his fingers, causing him severe pain," according to his suit. Rehaume says he ended up in a hospital emergency room.

Shields allegedly said his crew did not need to have a fire extinguisher on hand because they are "worse than fires."

The suit states Rehaume has performed during an NBA halftime show and on cable television.

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