Indiana's Spreading the Blame in That State Fair Stage Collapse

The State of Indiana released its official findings today in last summer's collapse of a stage at the state fair, and the blame goes mostly to the company that built the stage and the union that worked on it.

The State of Indiana released its official findings today in last summer's collapse of a stage at the state fair, and the blame goes mostly to the company that built the stage and the union that worked on it. The State Fair Commission, which runs the fair, also got a citation from the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration. But the biggest fine ($63,000) went to the stage builder, Mid-America Sound Corporation, which owned the stage rigging and committed "knowing violations," the Indianapolis Star reports. The report also fined the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees $11,300 for workers "failing to check soil conditions before securing guide wires," the Star reported. It hit the state fair itself with a fine of $6,300.

The union's attorney said the state was scapegoating the labor organization. "I just think it's reprehensible," Bill Groth, attorney for IATSE Local 30, told WTHR in Indianapolis. "The state ought to look in the mirror, because that's where the culpability begins." But there will be plenty more blame to go around. As the Star notes: "The IOSHA investigation is only one of several investigations into the stage rigging collapse," plus, people have filed scores of lawsuits and tort claims in the case. And can you blame them? Here's the frightening video of the collapse: