filing suit

Lawsuits fly in against Travis Scott, Drake, and more after Astroworld Festival tragedy

Astroworld Festival 2019 Travis Scott lift

Scott is facing at least two lawsuits.

Photo by Michael Anthony

Lawsuits are being filed against Travis Scott and Astroworld Festival on the heels of the mass-casualty event that killed eight and injured hundreds on Saturday, November 6.

Manuel Souza has filed suit against Scott, LiveNation, and other entities. Souza claims, in the suit, to have suffered “serious” bodily injuries after being trampled during the concert surge. Souza, who is from Austin, per Patch, is represented by the law firm Kherkher Garcia, LLP.

Citing negligence by the multiple defendants, the suit asks for $1 million in damages, CultureMap news partner ABC13 notes.

Souza’s suit calls the incident a “predictable and preventable tragedy” and adds that the defendants “failed to properly plan and conduct the concert in a safe manner. Instead, they consciously ignored the extreme risks of harm to concertgoers, and, in some cases actively encouraged and fomented dangerous behaviors.”

Meanwhile, TMZ reports that a second $ 1 million lawsuit has now been filed against Travis Scott and Live Nation, — and rapper Drake, who was onstage during the concert with Scott.

TMZ says that the plaintiff is one Kristian Paredes, who claims that the AstroWorld Festival concert history (surges) should have been paramount in executing the festival plan and security.

Paredes adds that Scott and Drake helped incite the crowd, implying that the duo was aware or should have been aware of the reaction the crowd would have been when the duo took the stage. The ensuing surge, a reaction to Scott and Drake onstage together, sparked the surge that Paredes says caused injuries.

Harris County has released the names of the eight deceased:

Mirza Baig, 27, of Houston
Rodolfo Peña, 23, of Laredo, Texas
Madison Dubiski, 23, of Cypress, Texas
Franco Patiño, 21, of Illinois
Jacob Jurinke, 20, of Illinois
John Hilgert, 14, of Houston
Axel Acosta Avila, 21, of Washington
Brianna Rodriguez, 16, of Houston

city-news-roundup celebrities

no more trips to Colorado

Bill to legalize marijuana in Texas filed by Dallas Democrat

Photo courtesy of Texas Original

undefined

Texas Rep. Jessica González (D-Dallas) has filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas. House Bill 1208 would legalize the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, and sale of cannabis.

The bill would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use. Adults could also keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis in their residence, as long as it is stored in a secure location.

Smoking or consuming cannabis while in a public place or in a car on a public road would not be allowed.

Gonzalez filed the bill in mid-November, one in a suite of bills that also included expanding insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization for LGBTQ couples; and requiring landlords to disclose all fees before a rental lease is signed.

Her bill was filed prior to an initiative launched by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on December 4 to ban THC products in Texas entirely.

In addition to legalizing recreational use, the bill also makes provisions for its production and sale including requiring that the packaging be child-resistent and clearly labeled, so that it's not confused for candy.

Businesses looking to grow, transport, test, or sell cannabis would need to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A 10 percent tax would be imposed on the sale of all cannabis and cannabis products. Some of the profits would go towards funding public schools.

If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.

Medical cannabis is currently legal in Texas under the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which allows low-THC cannabis to be prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy, MS, autism, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some cities have also approved decriminalization for the possession of four ounces or less of marijuana, including Austin, Bastrop, Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and Lockhart.

politics marijuana