Several lawsuits have been filed so far against a number of parties connected to the deadly stage surge during the Astroworld Festival at NRG Park in Houston, Texas, which left at least nine people dead and many more injured.
According to an ABC News report, a wave of tens of thousands of people surged toward the stage when rapper Travis Scott and later, rapper Drake, appeared. It turned into a fatal stampede, with some crowd members being crushed or trampled.
Tragic Crowd Surge
Concertgoers said they were pushed into one another from all sides. As the crowd pressed its way forward, some began to fall, pass out, and get trampled by others in the audience. The Astroworld Festival was founded by Scott and held annually in Houston for the last three years. One concertgoer, Fatima Munoz, said it felt like a domino effect. She said when she got pushed and fell down, it was nearly impossible to get back up. Munoz said she bit someone’s leg desperately to bring attention to herself. Fortunately, two attendees helped her up and out of the crowd.
The lawsuits and eyewitness accounts alleged that Scott continued to perform even after he saw emergency vehicles in the audience. Live Nation Entertainment and ScoreMore Holdings, two concert production and entertainment companies that organized and produced the event, and performers Scott and Drake are being sued. The family of 21-year-old Axel Acosta, one of the people who died in the crowd surge, said they plan on joining the lawsuit along with 35 plaintiffs.
After the concert, Scott released a statement about the tragic event on Twitter, saying he will cover the funeral costs for victims’ families and provide further aid to individuals affected by the tragedy. He has also said he will refund all Astroworld concertgoers and ticket holders. Live Nation has said it is working with law enforcement to get answers as to how and why this tragedy occurred.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those who have been affected by this devastating tragedy. Our deepest condolences to all those families that have lost loved ones in this horrific incident.
Liability Issues
There are certainly a number of unanswered questions here. What safety precautions did organizers take to avoid such a crowd surge? Did they have crowd control procedures and other policies in place? Should Live Nation have anticipated a crowd surge and taken steps to prevent such an event? In 2019, three people were hospitalized at Astroworld after being trampled when thousands rushed to get to the event. Did event organizers institute safety measures after that incident?
We trust officials are conducting a thorough investigation to provide answers to grief-stricken families. We hope victims’ families and survivors who went through an extremely traumatic experience receive the counseling and support they need.
Our California personal injury lawyers are closely following the investigation. We will do everything in our power to ensure that injured victims and families of victims get justice and maximum compensation for the injuries and losses they have sustained. If you or someone you love has been affected by this tragedy, please get in touch with our office toll-free at 1-800-561-4887 to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/US/lawsuits-astroworld-organizers-travis-scott-pile/story?id=81034235
