A state district judge has denied the request of rapper Travis Scott and his touring company, XX Global, to dismiss hundreds of lawsuits filed against them in connection with the deadly 2021 Astroworld Festival, where 10 people died in a crowd surge. In a one-page order signed on Tuesday and made public on Wednesday, State District Judge Kristen Hawkins rejected Scott’s argument that he was not responsible for safety planning and monitoring for potential dangers at the concert on November 5, 2021. Scott’s attorneys had maintained that his duties and responsibilities related to the festival were limited to creative aspects, such as performing and marketing. However, Noah Wexler, an attorney representing the family of Madison Dubiski, 23, one of the 10 people killed, argued that Scott had a “conscious disregard for safety” at the sold-out event. Wexler alleged that Scott encouraged people without tickets to break in and disregarded orders from festival organizers to stop the concert when it became apparent that attendees were getting hurt or dying. The lawsuit filed by Dubiski’s family is set to be the first one to go to trial on May 6. The families of the 10 victims, along with hundreds who were injured, have filed lawsuits against Scott, Live Nation (the festival’s promoter), and numerous other individuals and entities. Despite an investigation by Houston police, no charges were filed against Scott, and a grand jury declined to indict him or five other people on any criminal counts related to the deadly concert. The victims, ranging in age from 9 to 27, died from compression asphyxia, which an expert likened to being crushed by a car. Several lawsuits filed by the families of the deceased and the injured have been settled, including those filed by the families of four of the deceased.
Judge Denies Dismissal of Lawsuits Against Travis Scott Over Deadly 2021 Festival
