An Ohio man is suing concert promoter Live Nation after he claims to have suffered a “life-altering traumatic injury” when he was hit in the head with a full beer can during a Jason Aldean concert near Pittsburgh last summer.
The incident allegedly happened during the outdoor August 9 show at The Pavilion at Star Lake. Mike Mollenkopf says he was at the concert with his daughter when he was suddenly struck in the back of the head by a full, unopened beer can while Aldean was performing his second song, according to a lawsuit obtained by CBS News.
The lawsuit, filed by Morgan & Morgan, claims Mollenkopf was knocked unconscious by the impact and suffered a severe concussion. Court documents say the head injury led to short-term memory loss, cognitive issues, the development of a stutter and other ongoing post-concussion symptoms that could be permanent.
The complaint accused Live Nation - which operates the Star Lake venue, Crossroads Properties and Legends Hospitality - of being negligent, reckless, careless and liable for the injuries Mollenkopf’s sustained at the concert, CBS News reports.
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According to the lawsuit, the venue, located in Burgettstown, about 25 miles west of Pittsburgh, has a “well-documented pattern” of rowdy crowds and insufficient safety measures to protect attendees. His lawyers say stronger precautions should have been in place to prevent dangerous behavior.
“What was supposed to be a memorable night out with his daughter ended with a life-altering traumatic injury,” Morgan & Morgan founder John Morgan and attorney Mark Malone said in a statement, per CBS News.
The lawsuit also points to other incidents that allegedly happened the same night, including a ‘widely circulated video’ that showed a man attacking a women in the venue’s parking lot.
Mollenkopf is seeking compensatory and punitive damages and has requested a jury trial on the negligence claims.
Days after the alleged incident, Mollenkopf told WPXI-TV he hoped someone in the crowd may have filmed the moment he was struck.
“I’m hoping that somebody knows or has some kind of video. There were a lot of cameras there. And I’m hoping something was at least caught on video,” he said in August.
The Independent has contacted Live Nation, the Star Lake venue, Crossroads Properties and Legends Hospitality for comment.
