The first wrongful-death trial in Travis Scott concert deaths has been delayed

HOUSTON (AP) — The beginning of the primary civil trial stemming from the 2021 Astroworld pageant, at which 10 folks had been killed in a crowd surge, has been delayed.

Jury choice had been set to start subsequent Tuesday within the wrongful-death lawsuit filed the household of Madison Dubiski, a 23-year-old Houston resident who was killed throughout the crowd crush on the Nov. 5, 2021, live performance by rap celebrity Travis Scott.

However Apple Inc., one of many greater than 20 defendants going to trial subsequent week, filed an enchantment this week, robotically delaying the beginning of jury choice.

“Until I hear otherwise, the trial is stayed,” state District Choose Kristen Hawkins mentioned throughout a court docket listening to Thursday.

Apple, which livestreamed Scott’s live performance, is interesting a ruling by Hawkins that denied the corporate’s movement to be dismissed from the case. Apple has argued that below Texas regulation, it could possibly enchantment Hawkins’ ruling as a result of its protection claims are being made partially as a member of the digital media.

Apple is arguing that in livestreaming Scott’s live performance, it was performing as a member of the digital media and its actions benefit free speech safety.

“It stays our place that our conduct is protected by the First Modification,” Kent Rutter, one in all Apple’s attorneys, informed Hawkins throughout a court docket listening to Thursday.

Simply earlier than the listening to ended, Hawkins mentioned she had been notified that the appeals court docket earlier Thursday had denied a request by the legal professionals for Dubiski’s household to elevate the keep.

Jason Itkin, one of many attorneys for Dubiski’s household, mentioned he deliberate to enchantment that denial, probably as much as the Texas Supreme Courtroom.

Legal professionals for Dubiski’s household have alleged that her loss of life was attributable to negligent planning and an absence of concern over capability on the occasion. Her legal professionals allege that how Apple positioned its cameras across the live performance web site affected the position of limitations and diminished obtainable crowd house by the principle stage.

Rutter argued that it was broadcasting an occasion “with vital public curiosity” and that by doing so, it was performing as a member of the media and gathering information.

Itkin mentioned Apple has described itself in enterprise data as an organization that makes smartphones and computer systems however doesn’t point out information or information reporting. He added that the corporate’s Apple Information app is a subscription service that aggregates the tales of different information organizations.

“This isn’t a free speech case. They know that,” Itkin mentioned.

In the course of the listening to, Hawkins appeared skeptical about Apple’s claims about being a member of the digital media, asking Rutter that if a livestream had been arrange in a zoo to observe animals, would that be information.

“Sure, it might be,” Rutter mentioned.

Over 4,000 plaintiffs filed tons of of lawsuits following the live performance. Dubiski’s case had been chosen by attorneys within the litigation to be the primary to go to trial. Greater than 20 defendants, together with Scott, Apple and Dwell Nation, the pageant’s promoter, had been set to go on trial Tuesday.

Following a police investigation, a grand jury final 12 months declined to indict Scott, together with 5 others related to the pageant.

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Observe Juan A. Lozano: