INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- An Indiana law firm says it has filed a class-action lawsuit against multiple parties in the Aug. 13 fatal stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair.
The Indianapolis firm of Cohen and Malad said it has filed a class-action lawsuit against the state of Indiana, the Indiana State Fair Commission and companies that installed and manufactured the stage that collapsed in high winds, killing seven people and injuring dozens, The Indianapolis Star reported Wednesday.
The firm filed the suit on behalf of Angela Fischer, who was not injured in the stage collapse but suffered "severe emotional trauma" from witnessing the carnage, the suit says.
Attorney Jeff Hammond said the firm filed for class-action status because it wanted to include all victims dealing with injuries and emotional stress.
Some legal experts say the class action has little chance of success.
"As it currently stands, I would say it has zero chance," Jeff Cooper, a professor at the Indiana University School of Law, said.
The range of injuries that victims suffered is too broad to lump the people into one class, he said.
"I suspect the desire for publicity plays a role in the filing of this lawsuit," Cooper said.
Kenneth Allen, an attorney who has already been retained by some victims, called the class action suit "clearly frivolous" and accused Cohen and Malad of trying to "fish" for clients.
Hammond said the firm would stand by its suit.
"We researched this issue," he said. "We've filed a claim that we believe has merit and will help a lot of people."
