Houston law firm files $10 billion mega lawsuit against Travis Scott

A Houston law firm is demanding $10 billion for the resolution of more than 1,500 cases it has filed on behalf of victims of the Astroworld Festival tragedy at NRG Park in Houston on Nov. 5 that resulted in 10 people dead and hundreds of injuries.

Attorney Brent Coon, founder of Brent Coon & Associates announced the massive lawsuit Monday against rapper and headliner Travis Scott and other defendants. The firm currently represents 1,547 concert goers, more than any other group seeking damages to date, according to a news release. In addition to litigating high profile mass tragedies across the county for the last 35 years, Coon said he has also run a promotion company for 20 years and is familiar with how events like Astroworld are supposed to be planned.

"What happened at Astroworld was an unconscionable tragedy and it is important that justice is served for all those impacted," Coon said in the release. "I believe our firm is best suited to help lead this case, not only because of the number of victims who have selected our firm to represent them in this action, but due the fact that we possess the extensive legal experience as demonstrated by our lead counsel work on many plant explosions, product recalls and other mass tort actions."

Coon's firm is demanding legislative action to include crowd control planning specialists to certify events, mandated training programs for event preparation and criminal liability for any wrongdoing, according to the release. He is also working with Dr. G. Keith Still, a world-renowned crowd surge stampede expert, who will serve as part of the legal team and provide advice on steps public officials should take to ensure what happened at Astroworld never happens again.

Still is also serving in an advisory and consulting role to governmental investigative panels looking into the tragedy, including the Texas Task Force on Concert Safety Panel Gov. Greg Abbott announced in response to the deadly events at Astroworld.

"We will roll over every rock in this matter," Coon said. "Everyone associated with these types of events has the power to halt conduct that is resulting in injury to attendees. It has been terribly disappointing that some defendants have already gone public misstating and down-playing their responsibilities that attach to events such as this."

Coon alleges no company or individual involved in the incident ever made an effort to stop the event once it got out of control, which he called shameful. "Trying to publicly dodge culpability is irresponsible and inconsistent with what really goes on behind the scenes in these events," Coon said. "I know. I run them and I have had to stop one, and did so before anyone got hurt. It's part of the job."

Coon's firm has filed a request with the Harris County District Court system to consolidate all the cases involved. A hearing is scheduled for Dec. 13.

Scott and concert organizers face hundreds of lawsuits alleging negligence and misconduct. On Dec. 1, attorneys on both sides of the litigation filed a motion with the Texas Supreme Court's panel on multidistrict litigation to consolidate all Astroworld cases, including those yet to filed, before a single judge for pretrial purposes.