Rapper Travis Scott and venue operator Live Nation have settled lawsuits with nearly 100 plaintiffs who mounted personal injury claims related to the deadly 2021 Astroworld music festival days before a trial was set to begin in Houston.
Scott, Live Nation and venue operator SMG, a division of ASM Global Parent Inc., faced a trial Tuesday involving three bellwether plaintiffs whose injuries range from a collapsed lung to emotional distress.
The settlement came after the Texas Supreme Court denied a petition for writ of mandamus from Live Nation trying to prevent the deposition of its CEO, Michael Rapino. Rapino’s deposition was scheduled to take place Monday in Los Angeles.
Two bellwether plaintiffs, Angel Dominguez and Elizabeth Martinez, reached confidential settlement agreements on Friday with Live Nation and Scott, whose real name is Jacques Bermon Webster II, attorneys for Martinez confirmed to The Texas Lawbook. The third plaintiff, Henry Nguyen, who also lodged claims against SMG, will have his trial rescheduled, according to court documents.
The settlements resolve claims brought by Dominguez and 16 other plaintiffs represented by The McMillan Law Firm, as well as Martinez and 75 plaintiffs represented by Tracey Fox & Walters.
Lawyers for Nguyen, Dominguez and the defendants did not respond to requests for comment. Hundreds more plaintiffs who allege injuries from the concert are waiting for their trials.
Ten people died of compressive asphyxiation as the crowd surged toward the stage, squeezing people so tightly they could not breath. The youngest victim was 9-year-old Ezra Blount. The families of the dead have settled their lawsuits.
The number of tickets Scott and the venue operators sold exceeded the venue’s capacity, the lawsuits allege.
The multidistrict litigation is presided over by 11th District Court Judge Kristen Brauchle Hawkins. The case number is 2021-79885.
Dominguez is represented by Chance McMillan and Jaqualine McMillan of McMillan Law Firm. Martinez is represented by Sean Tracey and Lance Nolan Walters of Tracey Fox & Walters. Nguyen is represented by Steven Kherkher and Kevin Haynes of Kherkher Garcia.
The SMG defendants are represented by Kevin W. Yankowsky, Brett J. Young, Jeffrey A. Webb and Peter C. Tipps of Norton Rose Fulbright.
The Travis Scott defendants are represented by Kevin Riley, Zach T. Mayer, David J. Escobar, and Andrew J. Mihalick of Mayer LLP.
The Live Nation defendants are represented by Neal S. Manne, Robert Rivera, Jr., Ashley McMillian, Ryan Caughey, Kelley M. Keller, Laranda Walker, Ryan T. Weiss, Amy Hall and Jenna G. Farleigh of Susman Godfrey.