'Good Time' Star Buddy Duress Filed A Civil Complaint Days Before Death
Buddy Duress filed a legal complaint in November, just days before he passed away.
Duress, real name Michael Stathis, died on Nov. 20, 2023. He was 38.
His brother, Christopher Stathis, confirmed the news to People, saying he died of "cardiac arrest from a drug cocktail."
However, The Sun obtained legal documents confirming that he had filed a civil complaint against The City of New York, the New York City Department of Correction and Deputy Correction Officers Jane Doe and/or John Doe on Nov. 10, 2023, 10 days before his death, after being "brutally attacked by five to six known gang members" on Feb. 13, 2023.
Buddy Duress (L) and Robert Pattinson visit Build to discuss the film "Good Time" at Build Studio on August 10, 2017 in New York City.
Duress was reportedly an inmate at Rikers Island Correction Facility when the incident happened. He was no stranger to the place in the last few years of his life but said he "feared for his safety" while in the facility.
In his complaint, Duress claimed the defendants "allowed and/or facilitated gang members to run the Housing Unit at the Eric M. Taylor Center (EMTC) at Rikers Island." He alleged that the officers "acted willfully and maliciously in intentionally" allowing him to be attacked "without intervening," and they "failed to prevent or stop" the attack.
Actor Buddy Duress, actress Taliah Webster, actor Robert Pattinson, writer and co-director Ben Safdie and Co-director Joshua Safdie attend the "Good Time" screening during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 25, 2017 in Cannes, France.
He further claimed that the defendants acted negligently and breached their duty to protect him from harm.
"Solely as a result of the defendants' negligence, carelessness and recklessness, plaintiff, Michael Stathis, was caused to suffer severe and serious personal injuries to mind and body, and was further subjected to great physical pain and mental anguish," he alleged in his complaint.
The attack reportedly left him "severely injured and damaged." Duress claimed there was unspecified damage that "exceeds the monetary jurisdictional limits of all lower Courts which would otherwise have jurisdiction over this matter."
Buddy co-starred with Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie and Taliah Webster in the 2017 crime thriller "Good Time." However, he had been in and out of the Rikers Island jail. He had been sent there 10 times for various charges, from heroin possession to identity theft, the New York Post reported.
Buddy Duress (L) and Robert Pattinson visit Build to discuss the film "Good Time" at Build Studio on August 10, 2017 in New York City.
In 2014, he was in jail when his movie "Heaven Knows What" premiered at the New York Film Festival after being charged with grand larceny in the third degree. In 2019, he was back in prison after his mom, Jo-Anne, turned him in to the police for allegedly stealing checks and forging her signature.
Duress reportedly threatened to burn his mother's house down. Jo-Anne was placed on a protection order against Duress.
"I don't blame her," Duress said when he spoke via phone from Rikers. "I'm not easy to live with."
Actor Buddy Duress, actress Taliah Webster, actor Robert Pattinson, writer and co-director Ben Safdie and Co-director Joshua Safdie attend the "Good Time" screening during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 25, 2017 in Cannes, France.
Cameron Van Hoy, the director of "Flinch" who worked with Duress on the project, acknowledged the late actor's talent and troubled past.
"Buddy was pure electricity on screen. Working with him was one of the great adventures of my life. He was a kind person who loved making films," Van Hoy told People. "Despite any troubles he was going through in life he somehow managed to put them aside when it came time to work. I'm heartbroken that his life came to an end as it did."
