Fourteen fans and three workers are suing promoter Live Nation and performers Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa over injuries sustained after a fence collapsed at a concert.
According to the lawsuit, the list of injuries included six concussions, one fractured vertebrae, a fractured collarbone, two head wounds closed with staples, broken bones in the wrist and foot, and numerous lacerations, contusions and recurring head and neck pain.
A total of 42 people were injured in the incident at the BB&T Pavilion amphitheatre in New Jersey on August 5. "Our clients, and many others who attended the concert, were seriously injured because of the negligent conduct of the defendants who failed miserably in their duty to protect the audience and workers from harm," said trial attorney Robert J. Mongeluzzi, of Saltz, Mongeluzzi, Barrett & Bendesky, whose firm represents the victims alongside Steven G. Wigrizer, of Wapner Newman.
Wigrizer said: "Every plaintiff has asked us to do all we can to help prevent a reoccurrence through the litigation. Pure luck – not thoughtful planning by Live Nation or anyone else - is the only reason nobody died in that terrifying incident."
Andrew R. Duffy from the trial team added: "Live Nation was ultimately responsible for ensuring that its guests were safe and secure. There is no excuse for Live Nation permitting a clearly hazardous stage configuration within close proximity to a clearly inadequate railing above a steep six-foot drop off onto a concrete walkway. It does not take an engineer to conclude this was danger to concertgoers."
Fellow trial team member Jeffrey P. Goodman explained the decision to include the performers among the defendants. "Mr Broadus [Snoop Dogg] and Mr Thomaz [Khalifa] incited and inflamed the crowd by yelling for everyone on the lawn to rush toward a flimsy railing, which was all that separated the fans from the dangerous drop off and the poorly placed second stage."
None of the defendants have commented due to the ongoing litigation.
