A $ 50 million settlement has been reached in connection with the deadly collapse of a stage at the Indiana State Fair , a lawyer for injured survivors and relatives of those killed said Friday . The incident occurred August 13 , 2011 , when a strong storm packing winds estimated by the National Weather Service of 60 to 70 mph rolled through just before Sugarland , the country music duo of Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush , was set to perform . Authorities took the stage to warn the crowd to seek shelter at one point , due to the rough conditions . Four minutes later , speakers and metal scaffolding fell into the `` Sugar Pit , '' a section usually occupied by Sugarland 's most ardent fans . Five people died soon after the collapse , with two more succumbing later to their injuries . Scores more were injured and survived . The $ 50 million settlement reportedly includes $ 11 million that had been previously paid out by the state of Indiana . It also `` resolves the claims arising from the seven deaths and over 58 injuries against 19 of the 20 defendants in the case , '' according to Kenneth J. Allen , whose firm represented many of the victims and the families of those killed . Allen said the terms of how the $ 50 million will be distributed are being kept confidential , but noted that `` all of ( his ) clients are gratified to reach a conclusion and pleased by the settlement . '' He also noted a historical distinction of the settlement : `` For the first time in the state of Indiana -- and to our knowledge in the U.S. -- a lesbian widow has received a settlement for the wrongful death of her wife . '' Allen was speaking of Christina Santiago , a well-known figure in Chicago 's LGBT community who died in the collapse . Santiago 's domestic partner and executor , Alisha Brennon , will receive compensation as her surviving spouse . `` It 's a legacy particularly befitting of ( Santiago ) and I 'm sure she 's proud of it , '' said Allen . The settlement was reached with 19 companies . There 's still a case out against one remaining defendant : ESG Security -- a company that employed a guard who was among those killed -- that `` will likely go to trial in 2015 , '' Allen said . Two investigative reports released in spring 2012 found that the scaffolding was not up to standards and the Indiana State Fair Commission did not have adequate emergency planning in place . The findings were presented by representatives from the firm and officials from Witt Associates , a public safety and crisis management consulting group . At the time , then-Indiana Gov . Mitch Daniels promised to implement the reports ' recommendations even as he insisted his state fair was n't much different from many others . `` It 's ... now clear that most , if not all states , have been deficient in this area and have much to learn from this tragedy , '' Daniels said then in a statement . Earlier that year , the Indiana Department of Labor announced penalties totaling $ 80,800 following a worker safety investigation into the collapse . The largest fines -- totaling $ 63,000 for what the agency said were three `` knowing violations '' -- were levied on Mid-America Sound Corp. , which built the stage structure and leased it to the fair .
Scaffolding collapsed around an Indiana State Fair stage , killing 7 and injuring dozens . Victims and kin of those killed agree to a $ 50 million settlement in the case . A separate case against a security company working the fair is continuing , law firm says . Earlier reports found the scaffolding was n't up to par ; emergency plans were inadequate .