Metropolitan Opera Settles Lawsuit with Mezzo-Soprano Wendy White

The Metropolitan Opera has settled its long-standing lawsuit with mezzo-soprano Wendy White. The case, which began over a decade ago after White sustained injuries from a fall during a 2011 performance of Faust was set to go to trial this month but was resolved confidentially.

White alleged that she suffered nerve and muscle damage that ended her professional singing career. The incident occurred when a platform collapsed, causing her to fall eight feet. The Met initially cited a failure of a hinge connecting the platform to a staircase.

In 2013, White sued the Met for negligence, seeking compensation for medical expenses and lost wages. The lawsuit raised questions about her employment status, with the Met claiming she was a "special employee" while White argued she was an independent contractor. In 2015, a judge ruled in her favor, allowing her to sue the Met.

White debuted with the Met in 1989 and performed in over 500 shows before the accident. The Met is also facing lawsuits from other former employees, including one for denied retirement benefits and another regarding gender discrimination involving Anna Netrebko. The Faust production has not been staged since 2013.