Sugarland Lawyers Put Blame On Fans In Indiana Stage Collapse

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Lawyers for country duo Sugarland are stating that fans injured or killed by a stage collapse while awaiting the band’s performance at the Indiana Stage Fair last year are at least partially to blame, according to the AP. The statement comes in response to a civil lawsuit filed last week.

How does that sit with the band’s fans? If the Twitter response so far today is any indication, not too well.

According to the AP:

Calling the powerful winds that toppled the stage on Aug. 13 an “act of God,” Sugarland’s attorneys said fair officials and Mid-America Sound Corp. were responsible for the stage setup, and that the fans voluntarily assumed risk by attending the show.

“Some or all of the plaintiffs’ claimed injuries resulted from their own fault,” according to the response. Sugarland attorney James H. Milstone would not elaborate Tuesday on whether that statement included those killed as well as the injured.

Sugarland manager Gail Gellman issued a statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday saying Nettles and Kristian Bush were upset that anyone might think they were not concerned about their fans.

“Sadly when a tragedy occurs, people want to point fingers and try to sensationalize the disaster. The single most important thing to Sugarland are their fans. Their support and love over the past nine years has been unmatched. For anyone to think otherwise is completely devastating to them,” the statement read.

It’s causing some confusion among fans, who as you might expect, are not exactly pleased. Below are some of the responses so far from the #Sugarland Twitter feed:

Way to place blame on the victims #Sugarland — Sugarland Lawyer Blames Fans for Indiana Injuries – ABC News abcn.ws/zd127R (via @ABC)—
Kathy Greene (@Kathryn1317) February 21, 2012

Wow, is #Sugarland going to be the next #DixieChicks? (that is, will they drop into an abyss)? Terrible judgement | npr.org/templates/stor…—
Zac Watne (@zwatne) February 21, 2012

Stay classy, #Sugarland! Sugarland Blames Fans for Injuries at #Indiana State Fair Stage Collapse shar.es/gpOry—
Jen Pollack Bianco (@lax2nrt) February 21, 2012

Though at least some fans are jumping to the band’s defense:

On a related note, I'm really pissed at the people who are trying to squeeze $ out of #Sugarland after that HORRIBLE stage-collapse tragedy.—
Kristyn Holleran (@KristynTheKid) February 21, 2012

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