A young German lawyer representing extras who say they were injured during
a shoot with Tom Cruise in Berlin last year is seeking 11 million U.S. dollars
from his company "United Artists". 
 
BERLIN, GERMANY (AUGUST 26, 2008) REUTERS - 
Twelve movie extras are seeking 11 million U.S. dollars (USD) in
damages from Tom Cruise and his production company, after suffering broken
bones, cuts and bruises during the filming of the World War Two picture
"Valkyrie" in Berlin last year, their lawyer said on Tuesday (August
26).
    The extras were injured on August 19 last year, when the side panel of
a period German army truck burst open when it drove around a corner in central
Berlin.
    Cruise was not on the set at the time, but lawyer Ariane Bluttner told
Reuters Television that witness statements indicated the truck's side panel
had not been properly secured.
    "A new letter has been sent to Tom Cruise, (business partner)
Paula Wagner and United Artists, in which we set out the facts of the case
again and put a figure on the legal demands of our clients ... of 11 million
(USD)," Bluttner said.
    If her clients do not receive a satisfactory out-of-court settlement,
Bluttner said she would seek to submit a claim to courts in the United States,
where United Artists is based.
    The level of damages reflected past similar cases, and the risk that a
U.S. judge could order punitive damages for negligence if the case went to
court, Bluttner added.
    "Valkyrie" is named after the codename for a plot to
assassinate Adolf Hitler concocted by senior German military officers during
World War Two.
    Cruise plays ringleader Claus von Stauffenberg in the film, the
original release date of which has been postponed until February 13, 2009 from
July 4 this year.
    The German government initially banned the production from shooting on
location at the Berlin site where the plot was hatched and the conspirators
executed.
    It later changed its mind after months of national debate that focused
in part on membership of the Scientologist spiritual movement.
    Germany does not recognise Scientology as a religion and regard it as a
cult masquerading as a church to make money -- a view rejected by
Scientologists.
    The movie is being produced by MGM's United Artists banner, which
Cruise runs with business partner Wagner. UA's debut release under the new
regime, the Cruise vehicle "Lions for Lambs", bombed at the box
office last November.