Sugarland Fans Injured In Horrific Stage Collapse Have Themselves To Blame, Lawyers Say

Attorneys for the country duo Sugarland have issued a statement arguing that the people who were injured in that horrific stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair last August are partially to blame for getting hurt. "Some or all of the plaintiffs’ claimed injuries resulted from their own fault," the lawyers argued in a statement, and the Associated Press reports the lawyers are claiming that the fans "failed to take steps to ensure their own safety." Of course; if you read the fine print on the back of your ticket stub, it always says attendees are responsible for maintaining their own wings to fly away from any sudden catastrophe.

Sugarland lawyers are arguing that the powerful winds that toppled the stage were an “act of God,” that fair officials were also responsible for the stage setup, and that the fans voluntarily assumed risk by attending the show. Seven people died in the tragedy and more than 40 were injured. Sugarland’s manager, Gail Gellman, tells Speakeasy: “Sadly when a tragedy occurs, people want to point fingers and try to sensationalize the disaster. The single most important thing to Sugarland, are their fans." We guess it's just too bad the beloved fans couldn't "ensure their own safety."

CNN reports that in an affidavit from a lawsuit against one company, the fair's executive director says "she twice sent the show's promoter to talk to Sugarland in an effort to delay the show. Twice the answer came back—we want to go on, according to the deposition by Cynthia Hoye, the executive director of the state fair." Sugarland tour manager Helen Rollins says no one approached the band about delaying the performance.

Jeff Stesiak, a South Bend attorney involved in the suit, tells the Associated Press, "It’s unusual to put the blame on victims. The concert wasn’t canceled and they weren’t told to leave. I can’t imagine what the victims did to be at fault. They had a duty to warn fans. An open and obvious danger is more like walking along a road and seeing a downed power line and walking over it anyway. The storm wasn’t like that.”