Charges Stayed In Jamboree Collapse

Charges against three companies involved in the fatal stage collapse at the 2009 Big Valley Jamboree in Alberta have been stayed.

Crown Attorneys in Canada say there was no reasonable chance of conviction against promoter Panhandle Productions, stage producer Premier Global Productions and 1073732 Alberta Ltd., a contractor affiliated with Premier.

“Once all the information was collected in the investigation, including information that was brought forward after charges were laid, it was determined that if we proceeded there was no reasonable likelihood of getting a conviction,” Alberta Justice spokesman Josh Stewart told the Canadian Press.

Canadian safety inspectors filed charges in July against the companies involved in the 2009 Big Valley Jamboree country music festival in Camrose, where a stage collapse caused the death of one woman and injured dozens more. Most of the charges were related to failing to ensure the safety of workers.

All 33 charges against the companies are stayed, which means they can be reintroduced if significant new evidence is presented within a year.

The concert included Billy Currington, and Kevin Costner and Modern West were to take the stage before a storm ripped through, forcing the stage to collapse. Alberta resident Donna Moore was seated in the VIP bleacher section and was fatally crushed.

A $5 million lawsuit from Moore’s family is ongoing.