HOUSTON – Lawsuits over the Astroworld music festival tragedy on Friday night that left eight dead and dozens of more hospitalized have started hitting Texas courthouses.
On Sunday, San Antonio lawyer Thomas J. Henry announced a victim had reached out to him and that he had filed a sweeping lawsuit against rapper Travis Scott as well as Drake, also naming Live Nation and NRG Stadium as defendants.
"Live musical performances are meant to inspire catharsis, not tragedy," said Henry. "There is no excuse for the events that unfolded at NRG stadium on Friday night.”
Henry believes a message needs to be sent that a lackadaisical approach to event preparation and safety is no longer acceptable.
According to Fox 26, Houston attorney Tony Buzbee is also representing a family of a victim.
A records search shows more than a dozen lawsuits over the incident are already on file in Harris County District Court.
A lawsuit brought by the Kherkher Garcia law firm alleges the tragedy was “predictable and preventable” and seeks more $1 million in damages on behalf of a client who claims to have suffered serious injury “when the uncontrolled crowd at the concert knocked him to the ground and trampled him.”
A request for injunctive relief, filed through VB Attorneys, seeks to restrain Live Nation, NRG Park and Harris County Sports & Convention from destroying any evidence related to the tragedy, court records show.
Seemingly in search of clients, some law firms are taking to social media.
“Our hearts go out to those affected by the senseless and tragic incident at the Astroworld festival,” a Daly & Black post on Facebook states. “We are following the developments, and we stand ready to help if you or a family member need any legal assistance.”
On its website, Jim Adler & Associates states the event has become one of the “deadliest crowd-control disasters in the US in many years.”
“If you or a loved one was seriously injured at the Astroworld concert, you may be entitled to substantial compensation,” the site states. “Jim Adler & Associates is ready to help all the victims and their families.”