Stage Collapse Suit Inches Forward

High winds toppled stage rigging onto the crowd, killing seven people and injuring dozens more waiting for an outdoor concert by country duo Sugarland. 

Victims’ attorney Tony Patterson told Indianapolis’ WRTV more than 70 people, including Sugarland, have cooperated in providing their personal accounts of the incident and no subpoenas were needed.

“A lot of people are involved in the process of putting on a show,” he said. “These people deposing are trying to figure out what happened from their perspective. “As we go through this process more and more answers are discovered,” Patterson added.

Under state law, injured parties have until Aug. 13 to file lawsuits over the incident.

About 60 people are still seeking to hold the band and companies involved in the staging accountable, WRTV said.

The state has paid out about $11 million to victims. A trial for the case is set for February. Meanwhile, the Indiana Department of Labor is reportedly in settlement negotiations with the owner of the stage, Mid-America Sound, and the Stagehands Union.

The agency levied safety fines on the groups last year of $63,000 and $11,500, respectively.