A professional fortune teller is suing a movie theater chain for nearly $17 million after claiming a defective seat “catapulted” him forward, leaving him with chronic injuries that ruined his career.
For someone who makes a living predicting the future, it’s one unfortunate twist he apparently didn’t see coming.
Marcus Hunefalk-Franzen, a 60-year-old tarot card reader and actor, says the bizarre incident occurred at a Vue cinema in Islington, London, back in September 2015.
According to The Independent, Hunefalk-Franzen was getting up from his seat after a matinee screening when the chair suddenly collapsed, sending him flying into the seat in front.
Court documents claim bolts securing the chair to the floor were missing, turning what should have been an ordinary trip to the movies into an 11-year legal battle.
Hunefalk-Franzen claims the accident left him with chronic neck and back pain, alongside impaired hearing, taste, and smell.
Fortune teller claims cinema accident cost him millions in earnings
As reported by the Daily Mail, Hunefalk-Franzen initially sought £50,000 in compensation, which later increased to £200,000.
However, his claim has now ballooned to an astonishing £12.7 million, approximately $17 million USD.
PixabayThe fortune teller argues that the accident derailed his plans to build an online psychic empire called MyPsychicEye, which he believes could have generated more than £1 million annually.
He also claims the platform could have eventually sold for £3 million, while his injuries allegedly cost him acting opportunities and prevented him from expanding his career.
His demands even include more than £12,000 for past holidays and thousands of pounds to cover a 15-year supply of orthopedic shoes.
Vue has admitted liability for the incident but strongly disputes the amount being sought. Its lawyers previously argued the claim was worth just £8,000 to £12,500.
The cinema chain has also pointed to Hunefalk-Franzen’s medical history, including previous neck pain, chronic fatigue, and a brain injury, when challenging the extent of his claimed injuries.
The unusual case joins a growing list of bizarre injury lawsuits, including an Outback Steakhouse customer seeking $1.5 million after allegedly slipping on mashed potatoes.
Movie theater seating has also caused chaos elsewhere, with a fight over seats at an Other Mommy screening recently escalating into a pepper spray attack that forced an entire cinema to evacuate.
As for Hunefalk-Franzen, his lawsuit is not expected to reach trial until late 2027, meaning it could be 12 years after the accident before he learns whether he’ll receive his multimillion-dollar payout.
Unfortunately, there’s no indication his tarot cards have revealed how the case will end.
I’m Abhishek Sharma, an author at TigerJek.com. I enjoy exploring games, testing different strategies, and turning what I learn into clear, useful guides. My goal is to help players understand the game better and improve without the usual confusion.
