After a crowd crush at the Astroworld Festival left 10 people dead and dozens more with injuries, a lawsuit has been filed. The lawsuit, filed by Manuel Souza, names Travis Scott, the organizer of the festival and headlining performer, the entertainment company Live Nation, concert promoter Score more, and others.
Lawsuit for Serious Bodily Injuries
According to the lawsuit, which was filed in Harris County, Texas, Souza “suffered serious bodily injuries when the uncontrolled crowd at the concert knocked him to the ground and trampled him.” According to the suit, the basis of the claim was the failure of the defendants to properly plan and conduct the concert in a safe manner. “Instead, they consciously ignored the extreme risks of harm to concertgoers, and, in some cases actively encouraged and fomented dangerous behaviors. Their gross negligence caused Plaintiff serious injuries.”
The lawsuit also stated that “Scott actively encourages his fans to ‘rage’ at his concerts. His express encouragement of violence has previously resulted in serious violence at numerous past concerts.”
Souza, who is seeking “monetary relief of over $1,000,000,” also stated the preference of a jury trial.
In a statement, Live Nation expressed the following:
“Heartbroken for those lost and impacted at Astroworld last night. We will continue working to provide as much information and assistance as possible to the local authorities as they investigate the situation.”
How the Tragedy Unfolded
At the sold-out festival, the crowd, which was extremely packed together, began pushing toward the stage leaving others crushed so badly that many could not breathe and ended up losing consciousness. Many in attendance who witnessed the traumatizing events, explained that many of those who fell down were trampled, while others had to fight to make their way out of the crowd.
Just after 9 p.m., Scott began his performance. Officials admit to being aware of crowd surges toward the beginning of his set, with injuries first being reported around 9:30 p.m. Scott, who has denied knowing what was transpiring in the crowd, continued to perform until about 10:10 p.m. This is despite the fact that according to Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña, officials declared the festival a “mass casualty event” 30 minutes prior.
Travis Scott Responds
Scott issued his first statement in a video on his Instagram account the following night.
“I’m honestly just devastated,” Scott said as he rubbed his forehead and continued to sigh. “We’re actually working right now to identify the families so we can help assist them through this tough time.”
Many find great fault with the manner in which concert organizers continued the show even after people were being given CPR and were being carried away unresponsive.
According to a tweet by the Houston Police Department, the investigation into what transpired is active and “in its early stages.”
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When you have been injured in an accident, such as the tragedy at Astroworld, it can impact almost every aspect of your life. You should be able to put your time and energy into healing. However, you should never have to pay for someone else’s negligence. This is why it’s in your best interest to consult with a knowledgeable and experienced personal injury attorney who has experience dealing with these types of cases.
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Posted in: Personal Injury