Fans launch class action lawsuit over injuries Falls Festival
65 fans involved in a crush at the Falls Festival in Lorne, Victoria on 30th December have launched a potential million dollar lawsuit against the event’s promoters.
19 people were taken to hospital after a crush involving festival goers moving between stages at the annual Festival.
They were crushed against barriers and crowd footage showed a domino effect as fans fell on top of each other.
Brendan Pendergast of Warrnambool law firm Maddens launched the class action lawsuit in the Victorian Supreme Court.
Pendergast told Triple J “the allegation is that if proper care and attention had been taken to configuring the area where the acts were taking place and the scheduling of the successive acts, this stampede would not have occurred, that this was entirely avoidable.
“That’s the basis of this action - predominantly in negligence of the organisers.”
Pendergast said it “wouldn’t surprise” him if damages of over one million were payable but noted “it’s very early days.”
Fans had paid up to $470 for tickets to the three day event, which also runs in Byron Bay, Tasmania and Fremantle.
Falls Festival co-Producer Jessica Ducrou Falls Festival said the event will definitely go ahead at the end of this year.
In a statement she advised “we are co-operating with WorkSafe in its investigation.
“We have had regular contact with affected patrons since the incident and are providing ongoing assistance.”
Image: Still from amateur footage the crowd crush happened. Source:Supplied
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