Court Rules Live Nation Not Liable in Festival Deaths where tragic losses happened during unfortunate events. A Michigan appeals court has ruled that Live Nation is not responsible for the tragic deaths of three young men from carbon monoxide poisoning during the 2021 Faster Horses country music festival. Dawson Brown (20), William “Richie” Mays Jr. (20), and Kole Nova (19) died while sleeping in a camper-trailer. Investigators found that the generator outside the trailer was installed improperly, causing exhaust fumes to enter the trailer. Additionally, the carbon monoxide detector inside the trailer was not functioning. Two others in the trailer survived.
Live Nation Not Liable in Festival Deaths
The victims’ families filed a lawsuit against Live Nation, which manages the festival, and the Michigan International Speedway, where the event takes place. They argued that the camping conditions were unsafe, specifically citing that the campsites were too small to safely operate generators. They also claimed that Live Nation and the venue failed to adequately monitor the campground, contributing to the hazardous situation.
Court Rules Against Families
In a 2-1 decision, the appeals court ruled that Live Nation was not responsible for monitoring the campsite or preventing the dangers posed by the generator. The court acknowledged that the campsites at Faster Horses were smaller than Michigan’s standard campsite size, but noted that the festival had received a permit for the 800-square-foot sites. Additionally, Live Nation had provided campers with safety instructions about setting up generators. The court concluded that the campers had greater control over their own site and were responsible for discovering and addressing the issue with the generator.
Dissenting Opinion and Plans to Appeal
One judge dissented, suggesting that an average person might not have recognized the risks associated with the generator’s improper setup. The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Ron Marienfeld, expressed disagreement with the ruling and announced plans to appeal the decision to the Michigan Supreme Court, indicating that the legal battle is far from over. Live Nation has not yet commented on the ruling. The Faster Horses festival has seen several other fatalities and numerous reports of sexual assault since it began in 2013, raising concerns about safety at the event.
