Comments attached to the Huffington Post report of a lawsuit filed on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 were uniformly critical of plaintiff lawyers who sued the popular duo Sugarland for the August wind-related stage collapse which killed seven, and injured 40 others.
Traditional negligence case analysis involves finding a "duty owed", a breach of the duty, and injury caused by the breach.
The complaint alleges that Sugarland, among many others, had a duty to provide a safe concert environment and use reasonable care in the direction, set-up and supervision of the concert.
Sugarland supporters make relevant inquiry: "What does the singing duo have to do with how the stage is constructed?" [The situation was clearly different when the Rolling Stones hired "Hell's Angels" to act as "security" for the Altamont concert, years ago.]
The lawsuit filed in state court in Indianapolis, combines 44 injured survivors, four wrongful death plaintiffs, and "at least 20 law firms".
Neither the fair, nor the State of Indiana are mentioned in this suit, although there are many others already filed. Apparently, Indiana law limits the state's liability for the incident to $5 million.
Lawyers are looking for "deep pockets" for their injured clients.
Sugarland is not responsible for what occurred in this tragic case.
Other comments about the HuffPost article are critical of concert attendees, asking where individual responsibility for personal safety begins. As I wrote in a recent blog entry about the lack of uniform standards for outdoor concert staging, "Let the concert goer beware".
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