The last wrongful death lawsuit in connection to the deadly crowd crush at the 2021 Astroworld music festival has been settled, according to an attorney representing the family of 9-year-old Ezra Blount, the youngest victim of the tragedy. The family had filed a lawsuit against rapper Travis Scott, Live Nation, and other entities associated with the event, including Apple, which livestreamed the concert. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, and the family expressed their ongoing grief over the loss of Ezra.
Ezra’s father, Treston Blount, recounted the tragic events of the concert where he and his son were crushed by the crowd, resulting in Treston losing consciousness and Ezra going missing. After a frantic search, Ezra was found severely injured at a Houston hospital and passed away several days later. The lawsuit filed by the Blount family was one of 10 wrongful death civil suits filed after the concert, all of which have now been settled in connection to the tragic incident.
The details of the settlements in all 10 lawsuits have been kept confidential, and the settlement of the Blount family’s lawsuit was reported by the Houston Chronicle. Thousands of injury cases filed after the deadly concert are still pending, with over 4,000 plaintiffs filing hundreds of lawsuits related to the Astroworld crowd crush. The attendees at the concert were packed tightly, leading to difficulties in breathing and movement, resulting in the deaths of individuals ranging from 9 to 27 years old.
State District Judge Kristen Hawkins had scheduled the first trial related to the injury cases for October 15, focusing on seven injury cases. However, it is unclear whether the trial date will remain or be moved up following the settlement in the Blount lawsuit. No lawsuit has gone before a jury yet, with one wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of 23-year-old Madison Dubiski coming close to trial before being settled. Allegations of negligent planning and safety concerns have been raised by plaintiffs’ lawyers, while the defendants have maintained that safety was their top priority and the tragic events were unforeseeable.
Following a police investigation, a grand jury last year declined to indict Travis Scott and five others connected to the festival. The lawsuit settlements and ongoing litigation surrounding the Astroworld tragedy continue to shed light on the legal ramifications and complexities of events that led to the loss of 10 lives during the music festival. Despite the settlements, the families of the victims continue on their journey to healing and remembering the joy brought by their loved ones, like Ezra Blount, who tragically lost their lives during the concert.
