Attorneys for actor and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger have asked a Los Angeles judge to impose additional security and courtroom-management measures ahead of his expected testimony in a civil trial arising from a 2022 multi-vehicle crash.
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The request was filed as a trial approaches in a lawsuit brought by Cheryl Augustine, who alleges that the January 21, 2022 collision caused serious and lasting injuries. Schwarzenegger has conceded negligence in connection with the accident but disputes the amount of damages Augustine is seeking.
Augustine’s case is pending before Judge Edward B. Moreton Jr. of the Beverly Hills Superior Court, with trial scheduled to begin on October 12, 2026.
The latest dispute does not concern liability for the accident itself but security surrounding Schwarzenegger’s anticipated appearance after a social media post by Augustine’s lawyer, Gary A. Dordick, publicised details of the upcoming trial.
The post was presented in the style of Schwarzenegger’s 1984 film The Terminator, showing Dordick wearing dark glasses and a leather jacket and using imagery associated with the movie. Court filings say it also included a photograph of the crash scene and information about when and where Schwarzenegger was expected to appear.
Schwarzenegger’s lawyers argued that the post had transformed information already available in court records into an advertisement capable of reaching a far larger audience.
Their filing said the publication told potentially billions of Instagram users the date, time, courthouse location, courtroom information and expected duration of Schwarzenegger’s presence.
The defence acknowledged that the information was publicly accessible but argued that obtaining it ordinarily required someone to search the Los Angeles County Superior Court system.
The social media post, they contended, went considerably further by distributing the information through a platform with a massive audience.
“Indeed, the post identifies Governor Schwarzenegger as the first witness,” the defence filing states.
“Whatever else may be said about the post, it is an advertisement for the appearance of one of the most recognizable people in the world at a fixed place and time, published … in advance, by a person who has no responsibility for what happens when the audience shows up.”
On that basis, Schwarzenegger’s attorneys have asked the court to establish a security and management protocol for the trial.
Among the measures sought is a prohibition on photography, video recording or audio recording of participants in the courtroom and surrounding corridors without written permission from the judge.
The defence also wants Schwarzenegger’s arrival, departure and seating arrangements coordinated in advance with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
His lawyers further argue that Augustine should bear the cost of any additional security considered necessary because, in their view, publicity generated on her side created the additional security concerns.
The filing accepts that the First Amendment protects publication of the social media material but argues that constitutional protection for the post does not prevent the court from taking reasonable steps to manage safety and order in the courthouse.
The defence maintains that Schwarzenegger’s courthouse appearance was already public information but says the Dordick firm “amplified it to a far wider audience by design.”
The underlying lawsuit arose from a four-vehicle collision at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Allenford Avenue in Los Angeles.
Augustine alleges that Schwarzenegger was driving a GMC Yukon and negligently made a left turn against a red arrow before colliding with her Toyota Prius.
According to Augustine’s lawyers, the SUV was travelling with sufficient force that it lifted onto two wheels before landing primarily on the Prius and also striking a Porsche and another Toyota.
At the time of the crash, Los Angeles police said paramedics transported a woman who suffered a head abrasion to hospital.
Augustine is also suing Schwarzenegger’s production company, Oak Productions Inc.
While Schwarzenegger has admitted negligence, the forthcoming trial is expected to focus substantially on the nature and extent of Augustine’s alleged injuries and the amount of damages she should receive.
Augustine’s lawyers maintain that she suffered a traumatic brain injury that has significantly affected her personality, personal relationships and quality of life.
Her court filings allege that the injury has left her short-tempered, irritable and unreasonable and has caused deterioration in relationships with members of her family.
They further contend that the effects are permanent and that her condition will continue to decline.
The precise amount of damages being sought was not immediately clear from the reports, although when the lawsuit was filed in 2023, Augustine sought damages as well as reimbursement for medical and related expenses.
Schwarzenegger’s lawyers dispute the extent and valuation of those damages.
The former governor has also faced a separate lawsuit arising from another road accident.
Joanne Flickinger sued Schwarzenegger following a February 5, 2023 incident involving his GMC Yukon and her bicycle.
In that case, Flickinger alleged that Schwarzenegger was driving with excessive speed and failed to keep a proper lookout on San Vicente Boulevard before his vehicle struck her.
Her lawsuit alleges that the collision caused severe and permanent injuries and resulted in substantial medical expenses.
Those allegations form part of a separate civil proceeding and are distinct from Augustine’s case.
For the Augustine trial, the immediate issue now before the court is whether Judge Moreton will grant the additional security and access restrictions requested by Schwarzenegger’s legal team in response to the publicity surrounding his expected appearance.
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