The 76 victims of a crowd crush at Falls Festival in 2016 will share in a $5.7 million payout after a class action was settled with festival organisers.
Some attendees suffered injuries including fractured limbs, permanent scarring and psychological trauma when a crowd crush occurred as people tried to exit one of the main indoor stage areas at the Lorne event to move to an outdoor stage.
The group, led by Melbourne student Michela Joy Burke and represented by Maddens Lawyers, joined forces to seek compensation for their pain and suffering from event organisers Ash Sounds. The Supreme Court approved the settlement on August 13.
Before the class action entered the court, festival organisers admitted negligence and agreed to payouts for six attendees who were suing for « significant » injury. Successful claims of this type can exceed $200,000.
Other members of the class action were not seriously injured but suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder due to the fear of death they experienced as they struggled to breathe in the crush.
In a statement, a Falls Festival spokesperson said they hoped the settlement would « bring some relief and closure for all of the participants ».
« We also want to assure the participants, and all those who attend our events, that health and safety is our number one priority. We care deeply about the welfare of our patrons, and are continually improving and adapting our safety protocols on an ongoing basis. »
On Tuesday, one of the participants in the class action, Maddy (who did not want her surname published), told Triple J’s Hack program that she was « overjoyed » with the news.
« I am happy with it. It does reflect the pain and suffering that occurred. But it is just money as well. The most important thing that I’ve been trying to focus on is my own mental state… just working through those things mentally, » she said.
Olivia Jones, who was a teenager when the incident occurred, told The Age in 2018 she thought she was going to die during the stampede. She had bruised ribs, legs and deep cuts to her knee.
« There were people lying there, unconscious, not moving. I thought the people around me were dead, » she said.
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SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com
