Sugarland Singer Testimony Released, Says Band Not Responsible For Indiana Stage Collapse

By Samantha Abernethy in News on Apr 17, 2012 6:00PM

Members of country band Sugarland have filed their depositions in the lawsuit against the band and the companies involved in the Indiana State Fair stage collapse in August 2011 that killed seven people. Lead singer Jennifer Nettles submitted a four-and-a-half video deposition, in which she testified that the band had not been informed of the danger.

“I don't feel it's my responsibility or my management's responsibility to evacuate the fans in the case of danger,” said Nettles.

A law firm representing some of the victims released about 55 minutes of clips from Nettles' deposition Monday because they say it "tells a different story than the one being portrayed by Nettles' attorneys." The other half of the duo, Kristian Bush, also submitted testimony, but it was not leaked by attorneys. Fox Chicago writes:

“Did you care enough to postpone the event on August 13, 2011, until the storm blew past?” victim’s attorney Kenneth Allen asked.

“I didn't know about it,” Nettles said, “and it's not my responsibility.”

“You could see it was nothing more than an afterthought,” Allen said. “She said, ‘I care about my fans.’”

Allen claims the band resisted postponing the concert, so they would get paid, and could hit the road for their next event. He claims Nettles could have stopped the concert for safety reasons.

It appears the testimony of the band's tour manager Hellen Rollens will be the key to the the case, although she has not yet submitted testimony. Fair officials testified that they had twice asked a concert promoter to delay the show, but Rollens told a fair representative, “It’s only rain. We can play.” The Washington Post writes:

Attorney Mario Massillamany, who is representing one of the injured audience members, said he would like to ask Rollens if fair officials had asked to delay the concert and if she had relayed that information to the band.

“The biggest thing is we got those reports, which have a timeline of what people said, and it appears that it’s different than what Kristian and Jennifer are saying in their depositions,” Massillamany said.

Nettles testified that Rollens had the authority to cancel the show. However, the victims' attorney said she is just an employee, and the band members were responsible for the decision.

Sugarland’s attorney Bill Johnson said the victims' lawyers are pursuing the band's "deep pocket with lots of cash" for damages. He said the band had nothing to do with the decision, and the band members weren't aware of a dangerous situation.

Just before the band was to go on stage, Rollens held them back for a prayer, and one minute later the stage rigging collapsed. “Her decision to hold them for literally a minute saved every band member and crew’s life,” Sugarland manager Gail Gellman told the Associated Press.

A judge had ordered the members of the band to testify by April 17, so the case against several entities involved could move forward. A recent report showed the stage hadn't been built up to industry standards, but because it was a temporary structure the company that built the stage roof and rigging, Mid-America Sound Corp., was not legally required to have the stage inspected.

Below is clip from Nettles' video deposition released by victims' attorneys, via the Associated Press.