Sugarland defends self against suits

The band defended itself on its web site. "Sadly when a tragedy occurs, people want to point fingers and try to sensationalize the disaster. The single most important thing to Sugarland, are their fans. Their support and love over the past 9 years has been unmatched. For anyone to think otherwise is completely devastating to them," said Gail Gellman, Sugarland's manager, on the band's web site.

The A HREF=http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/sugarland-says-fans-failed-to-protect-themselves-against-injury-in-indiana-fair-stage-collapse/2012/02/21/gIQABySIRR_story.html?tid=pm_national_pop>Washington Post reported Tuesday night that the band's attorneys partly blamed concert goers for injuries sustained in the collapse of the stage at the Indiana state fair in which seven were killed and dozens injured.

In response to a civil lawsuit filed against the band, Sugarland attorneys said fans "failed to exercise due care for their own safety" and said some or all of their injuries "resulted from their own fault," the Post story said.

State Fair Commission Executive Director Cindy Hoye said in a deposition in January that Sugarland resisted pushing back the start of the concert despite the weather due to time lead singer Jennifer Nettles to warm up along with the band's travel schedule.