Who Could Be Held Liable For Deadly Houston Concert?

“Conditions have been created and consented to by the competition organizers that triggered a number of stampedes and a crowd compression that resulted within the tragic deaths of eight people and the intense accidents of a whole lot more," according to a lawsuit filed on behalf of Houston resident Wasem Abulawi, who the suit says was “seriously and permanently injured."

Kristian Paredes, an Austin, Texas, resident who named Scott and Drake as defendants, stated Scott had “incited mayhem or chaos at prior occasions" and that Drake was aware of Scott’s previous conduct.

Scott previously pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct charges related to two separate incidents of encouraging fans to rush the stage, once at a 2015 music festival in Chicago and later at a 2017 concert in Arkansas, local media in both places reported.

WHAT IS THE LEGAL STANDARD?

The most likely party to face liability would be the concert organizers and promoters who determined the level of security, said C.J. Baker, a Texas injury attorney.

To prevail on a negligence theory, the plaintiffs must show that the defendants knew or should have known that there were actions they could have taken to prevent a foreseeable tragedy, Baker said.

As for Scott, his previous behavior at concerts could help plaintiffs build a case against him, said Richard Mithoff, a Houston personal injury attorney.

“You have to know at some point that if you keep pushing it, this is the kind of tragedy that will result," Mithoff stated.

Scott’s file may assist plaintiffs set up “gross negligence," meaning an almost total disregard for others’ safety, Mithoff said.

WHAT WILL THE LIKELY DEFENSES BE?

Scott said in a video posted to social media that he “could just never imagine the severity of the situation."

He paused his efficiency https://www.reuters.com/enterprise/media-telecom/travis-scotts-astroworld-concert-pauses-then-restarts-amid-deaths-injuries-2021-11-06 as soon as it was clear folks wanted medical consideration and inspired the viewers to make room for an ambulance that was winding by way of the group, however later completed his set.