July 18, 2012
In an effort to give Indiana Fairgrounds stage collapse victims and their families more time to decide whether or not to accept a $13.2 million settlement offer, the Indiana Attorney General, Greg Zoeller, has postponed the decision deadline from July 13 to Aug. 1.
According to the South Bend Tribune, the settlement offer includes $6 million to release the state from liability in the deaths of seven people and injuries to dozens more, as well as an additional $7.2 million worth of private funds from Mid America Sound and James Thomas Engineering, two parties named as defendants in several Indiana Wrongful Death lawsuits stemming from the incident.
The settlement funding is in addition to $5 million that the state paid to claimants in December.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, the settlement is intended to expedite payments to those with immediate financial and medical needs; claimants have the right to deny the settlement and continue with litigation against the state should they choose to do so.
The Indiana Personal Injury Lawyers with Stewart and Stewart Injury Lawyers are hopeful that the settlement offer will help those in need of immediate assistance, and would like to remind those who were injured of the importance of this decision. If you suffered injury or loss as a result of an accident, the firm suggests that you speak with an attorney when faced with any kind of settlement offer.