Workplace accident dispute filed by Samuel Koch in court seeking official recognition of event
Samuel Koch, a 37-year-old author and actor, suffered a paralyzing accident during a stunt on the ZDF show 'Wetten, dass..?' in 2010. Koch bet that he could jump over five approaching cars with spring shoes in a forward somersault.
The accident occurred during the live broadcast on December 4, 2010, when Koch fell while jumping over the fourth vehicle and sustained a spinal cord injury. The stunt Koch performed was not remunerated by ZDF, and the social security coverage as an employee or 'like an employee' did not apply to Koch.
In 2020, Koch applied to have the accident recognized as a work-related injury. However, his application was denied by the professional association and social courts in Mannheim and Baden-Württemberg, with the argument being that there was no social security coverage in Koch's honorary position.
The case will now be heard by the 2nd Senate of the Federal Social Court (BSG) in Kassel. Koch assembled his six-member team for the show and organized the bet, and his appearance in the show was mainly motivated by his own economic interest. Koch concluded a non-remunerated cooperation agreement with ZDF for the stunt.
The decision regarding social security coverage for Samuel Koch during the show will be made by the Federal Social Court (BSG) in Kassel at the end of this month. The court will decide whether the accident during the show was a work-related injury for Koch. The hearing is scheduled for September 24 at 13:00.
