Indiana State Fair Tragedy: Answers and Recompense in the Form of Legal Action
In the wake of the now widely-publicized stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair, difficult questions remain about what could have been done to prevent such a tragedy and how victims and their families can be adequately compensated now for their loss. For many involved, this will take the form of wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits filed against the event coordinators and state of Indiana.
The events unfolded on August 17th, an evening that was brimming with excitement as fans waited for country duo Sugarland to take the stage. A severe thunderstorm warning had gone into effect and the crowd was told where to seek shelter if an evacuation was deemed necessary, but the call was never made to cancel the show. Excited anticipation from the audience soon turned to panic as devastating high winds toppled the scaffolding system, crushing concert-goers below. As the investigation into the collapse continues, questions will have to be answered about the structural integrity of the stage, whether the proper inspections were made and the full extent of weather preparedness and response on the part of the event coordinators.
The state fair accident has claimed the lives of seven people and injured more than 40 others as of this article in an event that Indiana governor Mitch Daniels has called a €fluke.€ Four victims were killed at the scene as the rigging collapsed and still others passed later when they could not recover from their extensive injuries. Among the victims were 49-year old security guard Glenn Goodrich, 51-year old Nathan Byrd who was manning the rigging at the time of its collapse, and 42-year old Tammy VanDam who is survived by her partner of 10 years, Beth Urschel.
In the pursuit of answers and recompense, lawsuits have been filed on behalf of the victims who died and others left vulnerable in the audience by the potential negligence of the event organizers. The first steps in this sure to be lengthy process have already been begun by the representative attorneys who filed tort claims for wrongful death and medical expense. These initial lawsuits have brought suit against the stage rigging owners, Mid-America Sound Corp. of Greenville, Ind.; Live 360 Group, and the owners of ticketmaster, Live Nation Entertainment. Thus far, plaintiffs are seeking damages in the tens of millions for loss of wages, physical pain and mental suffering. Outside firms have been hired to investigate the cause of the accident further and legal requests have been sent to the state of Indiana to secure the evidence from tampering. These are the actions of a conscientious legal team who will work to see damages awarded to their clients. Nothing can diminish the real loss of such a tragedy for families and victims, but lawsuits brought against the event organizers might send a clear message about the need for safety and caution above all else.
The events unfolded on August 17th, an evening that was brimming with excitement as fans waited for country duo Sugarland to take the stage. A severe thunderstorm warning had gone into effect and the crowd was told where to seek shelter if an evacuation was deemed necessary, but the call was never made to cancel the show. Excited anticipation from the audience soon turned to panic as devastating high winds toppled the scaffolding system, crushing concert-goers below. As the investigation into the collapse continues, questions will have to be answered about the structural integrity of the stage, whether the proper inspections were made and the full extent of weather preparedness and response on the part of the event coordinators.
The state fair accident has claimed the lives of seven people and injured more than 40 others as of this article in an event that Indiana governor Mitch Daniels has called a €fluke.€ Four victims were killed at the scene as the rigging collapsed and still others passed later when they could not recover from their extensive injuries. Among the victims were 49-year old security guard Glenn Goodrich, 51-year old Nathan Byrd who was manning the rigging at the time of its collapse, and 42-year old Tammy VanDam who is survived by her partner of 10 years, Beth Urschel.
In the pursuit of answers and recompense, lawsuits have been filed on behalf of the victims who died and others left vulnerable in the audience by the potential negligence of the event organizers. The first steps in this sure to be lengthy process have already been begun by the representative attorneys who filed tort claims for wrongful death and medical expense. These initial lawsuits have brought suit against the stage rigging owners, Mid-America Sound Corp. of Greenville, Ind.; Live 360 Group, and the owners of ticketmaster, Live Nation Entertainment. Thus far, plaintiffs are seeking damages in the tens of millions for loss of wages, physical pain and mental suffering. Outside firms have been hired to investigate the cause of the accident further and legal requests have been sent to the state of Indiana to secure the evidence from tampering. These are the actions of a conscientious legal team who will work to see damages awarded to their clients. Nothing can diminish the real loss of such a tragedy for families and victims, but lawsuits brought against the event organizers might send a clear message about the need for safety and caution above all else.
