Introduction:
A tourist has filed a lawsuit against Donny Osmond and one of the Las Vegas Strip’s most prominent casino operators after allegedly suffering an injury during his concert.
Joanne Julkowski from Illinois claims a glowing prop was thrown into the audience during the singer’s performance and struck her in the head – leaving her with permanent eye damage.
She accused Donny Osmond, Harrah’s Las Vegas, and Donny Osmond Concerts Inc. of negligence after what she says was a life-altering injury sustained during a performance in February 2024.
According to the lawsuit, a ‘lighted ball’ thrown or propelled into the crowd struck Julkowski in the back of the head, triggering a chain of injuries that culminated in retinal detachment and surgery.
The incident allegedly unfolded inside Harrah’s Showroom during Osmond’s long-running Las Vegas residency.
The show is known for its high-energy choreography, audience engagement, and theatrical props.
Julkowski filed the civil complaint on February 10 in Clark County District Court almost two years after the alleged incident occurred.
According to the complaint, she was ‘struck in the back of the head by one of the lighted balls that had been thrown or propelled into the crowd.’
The lawsuit alleges that the illuminated props are routinely launched into the audience as part of the show’s interactive elements.
The complaint further warns that the lighted balls ‘were capable of causing injury to concertgoers upon forceful impact,’ raising questions about whether sufficient safety precautions were in place before they were introduced into a packed auditorium.
The lawsuit claims that during the segment when the props were deployed, the showroom was intentionally darkened.
According to the complaint, the lighting conditions were ‘thereby reducing visibility for patrons and limiting their ability to perceive, track, and avoid the oversized, lighted balls moving through the crowd.’
The lawsuit, as seen by the Las Vegas Review-Journal states Julkowski ‘sustained serious injuries,’ including a retinal injury to her right eye that ultimately progressed into retinal detachment – a serious condition that can lead to permanent vision loss if untreated.
The complaint says Julkowski required surgery to repair the damage.
Even after undergoing the procedure, Julkowski alleges she has been left with ongoing visual impairment, as well as head and neck injuries stemming from the impact.
The lawsuit accuses Osmond, his production company, and the casino of failing to adequately protect audience members from foreseeable harm.
Julkowski is suing on counts of negligence and negligent hiring, training, retention, and supervision, alleging that those responsible failed to ensure the show’s props could be safely deployed.
Harrah’s Las Vegas, which is owned by Caesars Entertainment, is named as a defendant in the case alongside Osmond personally and Donny Osmond Concerts Inc., the company behind the production.
The complaint seeks damages in excess of $15,000, covering a broad range of losses.
Julkowski is asking for compensation for past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and loss of earning capacity.
She is also seeking punitive damages, attorney’s fees, court costs, and additional relief the court may deem appropriate.
The lawsuit alleges that the impact of the lighted prop triggered not only physical injuries but also lasting consequences affecting her quality of life and ability to work.
Under Nevada law, injured individuals generally have two years to file personal injury claims, placing Julkowski’s February 10, 2026 filing within the legal deadline for an incident she says occurred on February 15, 2024.
The case now enters the early stages of the civil litigation process, where attorneys for the defendants are expected to respond and both sides will begin gathering evidence.