Sugarland Responds to Indiana State Fair Collapse Lawsuit

Mercury NashvilleSugarland has responded to a lawsuit filed on behalf of 51 people connected to the stage collapse last August at the Indiana State Fair.  The suit claims Sugarland, the concert promoter and those who built the stage were negligent in allowing the stage to be overloaded by heavy gear, failing to monitor the weather properly and failing to evacuate the area in a timely manner before the collapse.

According to Indianapolis ABC affiliate WRTV, the response from Sugarland's lawyer states they had nothing to do with the construction of the stage at the Indianapolis State Fair as it was not set up just for their concert.

The statement reads, "The incident at issue in this litigation resulted from a gust of wind of unprecedented intensity, which caused a structure that may have been improperly designed, maintained and\or inspected to fail. As such, this was a true accident or Act of God."

An attorney for some of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit claims Sugarland twice refused to cancel the concert because they were concerned with getting to their next show. The band denies claims it was their responsibility to cancel the concert in case of inclement weather.

Sugarland's response also claims that "some or all of the plaintiffs failed to exercise due care for their own safety" and that "some or all of the plaintiffs knowingly and voluntarily assumed and\or incurred the risk of injury to themselves."

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages. Sugarland's manager Gail Gellman released a statement Tuesday on behalf of the duo.

"Sadly when a tragedy occurs, people want to point fingers and try to sensationalize the disaster," she says. "The single most important thing to Sugarland are their fans.  Their support and love over the past nine years has been unmatched.  For anyone to think otherwise is completely devastating to them."

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