Live Nation Charged In Toronto Collapse

Canada’s Ministry of Labor has laid four charges each against LN Canada, LN Ontario and Optex Staging and Services, with one against an individual engineer.

The charges, filed June 7, are for failing to ensure the stage’s structural integrity, according to Toronto’s Globe and Mail. They come almost one year to the day of the June 16, 2012, incident.

Drum tech Scott Johnson of England died in the 4 p.m. collapse, before doors were opened to Radiohead ticketholders.

“It was a very complex investigation,” Matt Blajer, Ontario’s Labour Ministry spokesman, told the paper.

Live Nation disputes the charges and says “we will vigorously defend ourselves.”

“We absolutely maintain that Live Nation and our employees did everything possible to ensure the safety of anyone who was in or near the stage involved in the tragic incident that led to the unfortunate death of Mr. Scott Johnson,” Live Nation told Pollstar.

“We will vigorously defend ourselves and we are confident that through this process the facts will come to light and we will be exonerated,” the statement continued.

“As we commence this year’s concert season with a new staging contractor, Live Nation will continue its strict peer review process with external engineers for rigging and staging.  We will remain vigilant in these safety and security procedures because the well-being of our employees, fans and artists is of utmost importance.”

A court appearance is scheduled June 27 in Toronto, according to The Star.