Astroworld Tragedy's Last Wrongful Death Lawsuit Assigned New Trial Date; 9 Other Cases Settled

The wrongful death lawsuit filed by Ezra Blount's family after he died during the Astroworld Festival crowd crush received a new trial date.

Over two years after the Astroworld Festival tragedy, which claimed the lives of 10 individuals and left hundreds injured, the majority of defendants have now reached formal settlements ahead of their respective trials. Among the 10 wrongful death lawsuits filed, the case initiated by Blount's family stands as the lone remaining suit outstanding.

Blount, 9, was the youngest victim in the crowd crush after suffering from compression asphyxia during Travis Scott's concert.

On Tuesday, May 14, the Associated Press confirmed that the wrongful death lawsuit filed by Blount's family will go on trial in September.

State District Judge Kristen Hawkins announced the development, disclosing that a jury selection will start on September 10. Lawyers for Blount's family asked Judge Hawkins for a possible earlier trial, but various legal and logistical issues made it impossible to try the case on a date before the new schedule.

One of the lawyers, Scott West, said they still planned to depose Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino before the trial. Blount's family is suing Live Nation, the festival's promoter, and other companies and individuals who worked during the Astroworld Festival.

Judge Hawkins also decided during Tuesday's hearing that the trial focusing on seven injury cases will be held on October 15.

Ten wrongful death lawsuits were filed after the incident, but nine of which had since been settled out of court.

"As the youngest victim, Ezra's terror must have been unimaginable as the crowd surge ripped him from the safety of his father's shoulders and then crushed and suffocated the life out of his small body - also rendering his dad unconscious," Blount family's attorney, Bob Hilliard, said after the development.

Before the settlement, the court scheduled a jury selection in the wrongful death lawsuit filed by Madison Dubiski's family. However, Live Nation's attorney Neal Manne said in a hearing that nine lawsuits, including Dubiski's, had been settled.

"The parties were able to reach agreement on a confidential settlement," Dubiski family's attorney, Jason Itkin, said in a statement to Houston Public Media. "The parties will cooperate in the future to honor Madison Dubiski's legacy and promote improvements in concert safety."

More than 4,000 plaintiffs filed hundreds of lawsuits related to the Astroworld Festival case, 2,400 of which are still pending.

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