Nearly All Of State's $5M For Fair Victims Claimed

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 6:29 AM

The stage at the Indiana State Fairgrounds the

day after the August 13 collapse.

file photo

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - Nearly all of the $5 million being paid out by the state for victims of the Indiana State Fair stage collapse is being accepted.

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller's office says 49 of the 65 claimants had accepted payout offers totalling $4.87 million from the state as of Monday afternoon. The deadline to accept the money was the close of business Monday.

By taking the state’s payouts, the recipients agreed to release the state of any liability, however, those claimants could still sue other entities connected to the stage tragedy.

Indiana law caps what the state can pay out in such a situation at a total of $5 million.

Families of all seven of the victims who died in the August 13 stage collapse accepted the payouts to be issued by the end of December.

The Attorney General’s office said the money which would have gone to victims who did not accept their payout would be distributed among those who did accept.

LINKS:

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Documents: Fair Had Vague Evacuation Plan

Sugarland Named In Four Lawsuits

"Tough Decision" To Make In Stage Compensation

State Wants Stage Collapse Lawsuit Dismissed

Class Action Lawsuit Filed Over Stage Disaster

Another Lawsuit Possible In Stage Collapse