Arnold Schwarzenegger heads to jury trial over LA crash that allegedly left woman with permanent brain damage

Arnold Schwarzenegger is heading to trial over a 2022 car crash that a woman says left her with permanent brain damage and other serious injuries.

The jury trial in Cheryl Augustine’s lawsuit against Schwarzenegger and his production company is scheduled to begin Oct. 12 at the Beverly Hills Courthouse.

According to a filing in the case, Schwarzenegger is expected to testify first after jury selection and opening statements.

“Mr. Schwarzenegger now admits he ran a red light while driving his SUV, causing the accident,” the filing states.

The case centers on a Jan. 21, 2022 crash at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Allenford Avenue.

Augustine’s attorneys say she suffered a loss of consciousness and permanent brain damage in the collision. The trial will focus on the damages she says she suffered.

In her original complaint, Augustine alleges Schwarzenegger and the other defendants drove and operated the vehicle negligently and recklessly, causing it to crash into her car.

She says the wreck left her with injuries to her body and nervous system, along with continuing physical and emotional suffering. The complaint alleges the injuries could result in “some permanent disability.”

Augustine also says she needed treatment from doctors and surgeons following the crash and has incurred medical and other expenses. She claims her injuries kept her from her usual occupation and could prevent her from working for a period of time in the future.

She is seeking damages for medical expenses, lost earnings, damage to her vehicle, loss of use of her automobile and other costs. The complaint does not specify the total amount she is seeking.

There is also a pretrial fight over security surrounding the case.

Schwarzenegger and Oak Productions have asked the court for special security measures during the trial, including coordination with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and restrictions on photography, video and audio recording around the courtroom.

The defense also wants anyone who “publicly promotes this trial or the attendance of any witness” to pay for additional security.

Augustine filed an opposition Sept. 28, asking the judge to reject that request. Her attorneys argue that making her pay for extra security would amount to an unconstitutional “trial tax” and violate First Amendment protections.

They also argue that no statute, court rule or published case specifically allows a litigant to be charged for courthouse security.

But the main battle remains the crash itself.

The trial is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. before Judge Edward B. Moreton Jr. in Department 205 of the Beverly Hills Courthouse.

Schwarzenegger, who served as the Republican Governor of California from 2003 to 2011, starred in many famous movies, including Terminator 2: Judgment Day, The Terminator, Predator, Total Recall, Commando, and True Lies.

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