Indiana State Fair stage collapse victim adds Sugarland, manager to suit

HOBART | Beth Urschel was injured and lost her partner in the Indiana State Fair stage collapse, and she isn't happy the country band that was performing appears to be blaming its fans.

The Wanatah resident lost her life partner, Tammy VanDam, and continues to suffer from injuries she suffered in the collapse Aug. 13 during a Sugarland concert in Indianapolis.

"I'm angry. I feel let down by a country band we loved," Urschel said. "Now in addition to dealing with the emotional loss of a loved one, I'm dealing with how it's my fault."

Urschel and her attorney, Kenneth Allen, announced Wednesday that they have added Sugarland and the group's manager as defendants in her civil lawsuits over the stage collapse. Allen filed the lawsuits in August on behalf of Urschel and VanDam.

In a response this month to a different civil suit filed by survivors and families of some of those killed, Sugarland's attorneys said the powerful winds that toppled the stage were "an act of God." The band's attorneys state fair officials and Mid-America Sound Corp. were responsible for the stage setup and the fans voluntarily assumed risk by attending the show, The Associated Press reported.

Allen said his firm amended the civil lawsuits Feb. 17, naming both Sugarland and the group's manager, Helen Rollins, as defendants.

"Helen Rollins made the decision to put 12,000 lives in peril without regard to their safety," Allen said.

Allen said Rollins could have delayed the concert until 10:15 p.m. — a change wanted by Indiana State Fair officials — but instead insisted Sugarland perform at 8:45 p.m.

Allen alleged the band refused to budge on the time because it needed to head to another performance the next day in Iowa.

"It was really a wrong and selfish decision," Allen said.

Urschel said she and VanDam had front-row seats to see Sugarland, which Urschel said was VanDam's favorite group.