(The video in today's blog is not suitable for young children; just my opinion.)
Lives were changed, and lives were ended in Indianapolis, Indiana August 13, 2011.
As most people know by now, that was the day a huge gust of wind swept through the concert area of the Indiana State Fair, bringing the stage scaffolding and equipment down onto the crowd gathered for that night’s Sugarland performance. Five people died at the scene, and at least 45 were injured. In the days since, one more person has died, while a seventh is on life support, near death.
From the beginning reports told how the weather department in Indiana issued a warning of high winds possible for later in the evening. A person associated with the Indiana State Fair had went on stage, just before Sugarland was to perform, letting the audience know that there was a possibility of high winds for later in the evening. A few minutes later the 60 to 70 mile an hour gust hit the stage, bringing it down.
Most news reports told that the warning had been given that it would be within one to two hours. I remember seeing one Indiana weather person being interviewed however, who told a different story. This person said that the fair had been told there was going to be high winds, and decided to let the show go on anyway. The person out and out said, on the day it happened, that it could have been prevented. At the time, I thought, “here’s where the lawsuits start; this guy is just fueling the fire”.
Sure enough, just over a week later, at least two lawsuits have been filed, with a third possible. This is where I see both sides of this event.
Yes, people died, there’s loss, and a lot of grief. And perhaps those left to carry on can’t afford the price to bury the person; or the medical bills incurred. Maybe the person who died was the soul breadwinner of the family, and now that income is gone. All are at least somewhat legitimate reasons to look for retribution; but $50 million dollars? Really? Why?
That price isn’t going to bring the person back. It won’t ease the pain or loss either, even though that’s part of the lawsuit, “pain and suffering”. Even if the person was the soul person working in the household, $50 million is way more money than seems necessary. Even considering the cost of lawyers and trials, and taxes being withheld from that amount, it just seems like a lot to ask for. And that amount was just for the person who died. That person’s partner not only is seeking the $50 million for the loss of their partner, they’re looking for another $10 million for the injuries they incurred as well.
Then there’s the fact of who’s being sued; it’s not just the fair. Others have been named in the lawsuit, including Live Nation, which is part of Ticketmaster. Maybe it’s because I’m not a lawyer that I don’t understand all of this; why sue Live Nation for selling you the ticket to the show that night? Unless Live Nation twisted someone’s arm and made them buy a ticket, I don’t see how they’re responsible; those buying tickets to that night’s show made the choice to do that. Likewise, those buying the higher price tickets closer to the stage made that choice.
One person who died was actually doing security at the concert. The person was doing the job they were given to do, and doing what they’d been told to do. Yes, that person made the choice to follow those orders; however, to me, it’s still different. That person was there because of their job; not just to have a good time at a concert that night.
Not that the loss of concertgoers was any less painful than anyone else; I don’t mean that at all. All I’m saying is, the security guard was assigned to be at the show, whereas concertgoers made the choice to be there. To me, in some ways, it makes sense that person’s family would file a lawsuit. Not for $50 million dollars maybe, but file one nonetheless.
Let’s face it, any of us could be hurt anytime, anywhere; whether we put ourselves in obvious danger, or we’re somewhere we consider safe. It’s life, fluke things happen. It doesn’t mean we should all run for cover and hide from the world. Just living is a risk in and of it’s self.
To paraphrase one of the best comments I read about this
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