Current:Home > InvestJudge dismisses lawsuits filed against rapper Drake over deadly Astroworld concert-LoTradeCoin
Judge dismisses lawsuits filed against rapper Drake over deadly Astroworld concert
View Date:2024-12-23 18:54:13
HOUSTON (AP) — Hip-hop artist Drake has been dismissed from a lawsuit over the deadly 2021 Astroworld festival in Houston in which 10 people were killed, a judge has ruled.
Drake was a special guest of rap superstar Travis Scott, who had headlined the festival. He performed with Scott at the end of the concert on Nov. 5, 2021, as the crowd surged and attendees were packed so tightly that many could not breathe or move their arms or legs. Authorities and festival organizers were trying to shut down the show.
The families of the 10 people who died during the concert, as well as hundreds who were injured, sued Drake, Scott and Live Nation — the festival’s promoter — as well as dozens of other individuals and entities.
Many of those who were sued, including Drake and Scott, have asked state District Judge Kristen Hawkins to dismiss the lawsuits against them. On Wednesday, Hawkins dismissed Drake from the case in a brief order.
Lawyers for Drake, whose full name is Aubrey Drake Graham, had argued during a court hearing April 1 in Houston that he was not involved in putting the concert together so was not liable for the deaths and injuries that had occurred.
During a deposition he gave in November in Toronto, the Canadian rapper said in the moments before he took the stage, no one told him that people in the crowd were suffering cardiac arrests or other injuries. He said when he was on stage, the crowd looked like a blur and he couldn’t make out any details.
In the deposition, Drake was shown a video that the youngest victim, 9-year-old Ezra Blount, took as he sat on his father’s shoulders.
“Do you see the panic in those people’s eyes?” an attorney asked Drake about the video.
“I do, sir,” the rapper responded.
Later, when asked by an attorney for Blount’s family about whether it would be important for him to hear from those who put the concert together about why Blount died, Drake said, “I think I would want answers for what happened, yes.”
On Monday, Hawkins dismissed seven companies and individual people who had been sued. But she denied motions to dismiss that were filed by 10 other companies and individuals, including Apple Inc., which produced a livestream of the concert, and two companies associated with Scott. Hawkins was set to hear other motions to dismiss, including one related to Scott as an individual, on Monday.
Following an investigation by Houston Police, no charges were filed against Scott. A grand jury in June declined to indict him and five other people on any criminal counts related to the deadly concert. Police Chief Troy Finner declined to say what was the overall conclusion of his agency’s investigation.
In July, the police department made public its nearly 1,300-page investigative report in which festival workers highlighted problems and warned of possible deadly consequences.
Those killed, who ranged in age from 9 to 27, died from compression asphyxia, which an expert likened to being crushed by a car.
The first trial from the lawsuits is scheduled for May 6.
Some of the lawsuits have since been settled, including those filed by the families of four of the people killed during the concert. The most recent settlement related to a person who was killed was announced in court filings on Feb. 5, with lawyers for the family of 23-year-old Rodolfo “Rudy” Peña saying they had settled their case.
___
Follow Juan A. Lozano: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70
veryGood! (5436)
Related
- Lions find way to win, Bears in tough spot: Best (and worst) from NFL Week 10
- Gigi Hadid's Daughter Khai Looks So Grown Up in Adorable New Photo Shared by Yolanda Hadid
- Fishermen find remains of missing father inside shark in Argentina
- 'Succession,' Season 4, Episode 5, 'Kill List'
- 15 new movies you'll want to stream this holiday season, from 'Emilia Perez' to 'Maria'
- Goldbergs' AJ Michalka Reveals Why She Has It Easy as Co-Star Hayley Orrantia's Bridesmaid
- The best Met Gala looks and the messy legacy of Karl Lagerfeld
- Harvey Weinstein Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Los Angeles Rape Case
- Skiing legend Lindsey Vonn ends retirement, plans to return to competition
- Italy migrant boat shipwreck: Whole families reportedly among victims who paid $8K each for voyage of death
Ranking
- Homes of Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce burglarized, per reports
- Peter Pan still hasn't grown up, but Tiger Lily has changed
- John Mulaney's 'Baby J' turns the spotlight on himself
- 'Some Like It Hot' leads with 13 Tony Award nominations
- See Chris Evans' Wife Alba Baptista Show Her Sweet Support at Red One Premiere
- There's a 'volume war' happening in music
- Tom Hanks has starred in dozens of movies. Now he's written a novel, too
- Charges against Alec Baldwin in the 'Rust' movie set shooting dropped for now
Recommendation
-
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Bobby Allison dies at 86
-
How should we think about Michael Jackson's music? A new podcast explores his legacy
-
John Travolta's Birthday Plans Reach New Heights With Jet-Set Adventure Alongside Daughter Ella
-
Jerry Springer, talk show host and former Cincinnati mayor, dies at 79
-
Republican Scott Baugh concedes to Democrat Dave Min in critical California House race
-
Martha Stewart is the oldest cover model ever for a 'Sports Illustrated' swim issue
-
Paris Hilton Reacts to Ellen DeGeneres Predicting Her Baby Boy's Name a Year Ago
-
Apple Music Classical aims to reach music lovers the streaming revolution left behind