Sugarland part of stage collapse suit

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- U.S. country duo Sugarland is among the latest defendants named in a lawsuit over the Indiana State Fair stage collapse in August in which seven people died.

Several victims filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Marion County Superior Court, accusing Sugarland and other companies of negligence, The Indianapolis Star reported Wednesday.

In addition to the seven deaths, dozens of concert-goers were injured when a wind gust toppled equipment hanging over the stage before the Aug. 13 concert.

The families or estates of four people who died are listed as plaintiffs, as well as other victims who were injured, the Star said. Defendants also include concert producer Live Nation, ESG Security, the stagehands union and other companies involved with Sugarland's concert.

The suit, which seeks unspecified damages and legal fees, alleges the band and other plaintiffs failed to build a safe stage and should have done a better job of monitoring weather reports. When the weather worsened, officials should have called off the concert and removed the crowd.

Investigators were still analyzing the wreckage to determine the exact cause of the collapse, saying it could be months before their investigation is finished.

More than 100 victims already filed tort claim notices with the state, the Star said. Indiana law bars the state from paying more than $5 million in damages arising from a single event, but the cap doesn't extend to the band or companies involved in the concert.