Legal action has been initiated against performing artist Travis Scott following a tragedy at the Astroworld Festival that resulted in dozens of injuries and the deaths of eight people in Houston, Texas, on November 5. Manuel Souza, an attendee of the concert who suffered serious injuries when the crowd knocked him to the ground and trampled him, is suing Travis Scott, who organized the Astroworld Festival, as well as entertainment company Live Nation, concert promoter Scoremore, and several others involved in the festival. The lawsuit claims that Souza suffered injuries because the defendants consciously ignored the risks of harm to concertgoers and in some cases actively encouraged dangerous behaviors. Souza is seeking damages in excess of $1,000,000.
Timeline
Travis Scott began his set shortly after 9 p.m. Officials stated that they were made aware of crowd surges during the early part of his set, and they received the first reports of injuries around 9:30 p.m. It isn’t clear whether Scott was aware of the crowd conditions during his performance. However, videos from the concert’s livestream show Scott pausing his performance and looking on as an ambulance pulled into the crowd. He began performing again after this, but he later stopped the concert.
Travis Scott’s Response
On the Saturday following the event, Scott gave his first on-camera statement in a video posted to his Instagram account. In this video, Scott stated that he was devastated, and he claimed that he was working to identify the families of victims to provide them with assistance. In addition, Scott indicated that he was not aware of the severity of the crowd situation during his performance. Specifically, Scott stated, “Any time I could make out, you know, anything that’s going on, you know, I just stopped my show and, you know, helped them get the help they need.”
The Lawsuit
In addition to the issues discussed above, Souza’s lawsuit alleges that Scott actively encourages his fans to “rage” at his performances. The lawsuit also alleges that Scott’s propensity to encourage violence at his shows has previously resulted in violent incidents. In addition, the lawsuit cites a tweet from Scott that indicated he intended to admit attendees into the event even after it reached full capacity.
Contact a Pensacola Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have been injured in an accident of any kind in Florida, you need an experienced and knowledgeable attorney on your side. At Staples, Ellis + Associates, P.A., our Florida personal injury attorneys are here to help. Located in Pensacola, Florida, Staples, Ellis + Associates, P.A., provides assistance to injury victims in Northwest Florida and Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton Counties. When you come to us for help following an accident, our attorneys will do everything in our power to ensure a successful result in your case. Please contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Posted in: Personal Injury