Final defendant in stage collapse dropped

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A security company named in a class-action lawsuit filed by victims of the deadly 2011 Indiana State Fair stage collapse has become the final defendant dismissed from that case.

A Marion County judge this week granted ESG Security’s motion for summary judgment, effectively dropping it from the case. His order says only that he found “no genuine issue of material fact.”

Stage collapse victims had sued 19 other companies, but they reached a nearly $50 million settlement in December.

The Indianapolis Star reports ESG Security did not take part in that settlement. The company contended it wasn’t involved in crucial events leading up to the August 2011 collapse.

Seven people were killed when high winds toppled stage rigging onto fans awaiting the start of a concert by country duo Sugarland.