$13.2 mil more offered to Fair victims

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The Indiana attorney general on Friday announced an agreement to distribute $13.2 million more to victims of the State Fair stage rigging collapse last summer.

That money comes from the state, which is contributing $6 million, and two of the companies that have been named as defendants in lawsuits over the accident - Mid America Sound and James Thomas Engineering - which are contributing $7.2 million.

The offer comes with strings attached, however. Any victims or families of vicitms that take the money from the new offer must agree not to sue the two private companies.

"This is an opportunity that they can speed up relief from the public funds and the private funds" said State Attorney Greg Zoeller.

Under the new distribution plan
familes of the 7 WHO DIED will receive around $400,000.

The arbitration panel will then use the remaining pool of money to first pay off victims personal injury medical bills.
Victims with permanent paralysis will be compensated next followed by those requiring long term medical care.
If any money remains, victims with lost wages will be compensated followe by those with non physical injuries.

The compensation fund is the second time the State is distributing money.
$5 million dollars was paid out by the State last December.

Because the second round of State money is tied to private money from two defendents in the case, the State does not know if victims will be interested in taking the money.

"If the victims decide not to accept this. If we don't have sufficient numbers, we will have to go back to the public funds" said Zoeller.

Attorneys Tony Patterson and Carl Brizzi represent several victims. In the coming days they will explain the deal to their clients.

"Really one thing we will be looking at is what makes sense and does it make sense for the private settlements to be tied to the State settlements" said Patterson.

Brizzi represents Heather Goodrich whose husband Glenn was killed in the collapse.

"Any amount of money is going to help so she doesn't have to worry about the everyday economic worries of losing a husband ... There is no sense that she wants to short circuit the judicial process at all" said Brizzi.

Victims must apply for the compensation by July 13th.