Travis Scott And Live Nation Have Only One Wrongful-Death Lawsuit Pending

Travis Scott and those involved in the Astroworld music festival continue to battle lawsuits three years after the tragic incident.

Ten innocent lives were claimed during a deadly crowd surge in the November 2021 event, leaving several others injured. The rapper and the event’s organizer, Live Nation, were slammed with ten wrongful death lawsuits but have successfully settled nine cases.

The ninth wrongful death lawsuit was scheduled to go to trial this week, with the jury selection set to begin on Tuesday. However, the case filed by the family of the late Madison Dubiski was settled before the court proceedings could begin.

This marked significant progress for Scott and the other defendants, as they had one case left to face. Neal Manne, an attorney for Live Nation, confirmed the news for the first time in a court hearing on Wednesday.

However, he didn’t share details about these settlements because of a gag order in the case. Noah Wexler, an attorney for Dubiski’s family, also confirmed that his client’s grievances have been “resolved in its entirety.”

Scott’s representative, Ted Anastasiou, echoed similar sentiments about the case. “Mr. Scott is grateful that a resolution has been reached without the need for a trial,” he said, per Ap News, adding:

“The confidential agreement will honor Madison Dubiski’s legacy and promote improvements for concert safety.”

The pending wrongful death lawsuit was filed by the family of 9-year-old Ezra Blount, the youngest person killed during the Astroworld incident. Scott West, an attorney for the grieving relatives, claimed their case was ready for trial.

However, Live Nation’s lawyer stressed that he and the lawyers for the other defendants being sued were not ready. Given State District Judge Kristen Hawkins’s stance, the ball appears to be in the Blount family’s court.

Hawkins revealed that she planned to discuss the Blount case at next week’s hearing alongside potential trials related to the injury cases filed after the Astroworld concert.

The State District Judge stressed that if the Blount family’s lawsuit is not settled, she is inclined to schedule the case as the subsequent trial instead of an injury case. According to Manne, Live Nation’s attorney, over 4,000 plaintiffs filed hundreds of lawsuits after the concert.

Those killed in the Astroworld incident reportedly died from compression asphyxia, which an expert compared to being crushed by a car. The victims ranged in age from 9 to 27, with the Blount family’s lawyer stressing how traumatic the youngest victim’s final moments were.

“As the youngest victim, Ezra’s terror must have been unimaginable as the crowd surge ripped him from the safety of his father’s shoulders and then crushed and suffocated the life out of his small body,” Bob Hilliard, the attorney for Blount’s family, said in a statement.

As for what caused the deadly crowd surge, lawyers for the Astroworld victims have alleged in court filings that the deaths and hundreds of injuries at the concert were caused by negligent planning.

They also blamed showrunners for their lack of concern over capacity and safety at the event.

Two months before his latest lawsuit win, The Blast reported that Scott had escaped the financial loss case linked to the Astroworld music festival. The Ceremony of Roses branding company dismissed their claims against the rapper in March.

In their initial filing, COR claimed they incurred financial losses during their partnership with Scott and Live Nation. They were hired to offer attendees additional attractions at the event, such as “carnival-style games and amusements on the Festival grounds.”

These activities were intended to elevate the fan experience, boost ticket sales, and encourage concert attendees to remain on-site and continue spending. 

However, the cancellation of Astroworld prevented COR from recovering its initial expenses and the complete loss of its anticipated profits.

The Astroworld lawsuits weren’t Scott’s only problems, as The Blast reported he was hit with a massive tax lien. Last year, the Government accused him of owing over $100,000.

According to California State’s Franchise Tax Board, the rapper owed them $106,968.18 for 2021. They stressed that if he failed to act soon, further interest and fees would continue to accrue until the lien was fully paid off.

News of the debt broke amid Scott’s Utopia music tour. For the rapper, who has a net worth of about $80 million, paying the tax lien or accruing more interest wouldn’t break the bank.