*Update as of Oct. 12
On October 12, University of Oregon General Legal Counsel received notice that UO is being dropped from the injury lawsuit filed against them regarding an incident at Matthew Knight Arena in October 2021.
The 876k lawsuit filed on October 4 against UO, LiveNation an entertainment company and Starplex Corporation; a crowd management company hired by LiveNation was related to an alleged battery by security staff at a Phish Rock Band concert at Matthew Knight Arena.
UO legal counsel was notified today that they have since been dropped from the lawsuit because the event was not an UO sponsored event and thus the security team accused of battery on the plaintiff were not UO staff.
The plaintiff has refused to settle and is demanding a jury trial therefore the lawsuit against StarPlex Corporation is still pending and awaiting trial. No trial date has been set.
On Oct. 4, the University of Oregon was named in a nearly $900k lawsuit related to an alleged battery that took place during a concert at Matthew Knight Arena in October 2021.
The plaintiff, Dustin Ferreira, uses a wheelchair for mobility and has a genetic disorder. To help alleviate pain caused by his disorder; Ferreria often uses THC in vaping form.
On Oct. 20, 2021 Ferreira attended a Phish concert held at Matthew Knight Arena. Ferreria was sitting in his wheelchair in the ADA accessible seating at the concert when he reportedly used his vape pen during the concert, which is prohibited inside of Matthew Knight Arena.
Ferreira alleges he was confronted by a security guard who proceeded to grab Ferreira by his neck and shoulders, causing injury. As a result of the injuries, Ferreira reportedly required multiple surgeries and medical visits, totaling over $176k in medical expenses.
The employee alleged of committing the battery on Ferreria was at the time employed by StarPlex Corporation, a crowd management company hired by entertainment company LiveNation who hosted the concert and leased the arena from UO for the event, according to the legal complaint.
At the time of the incident, Ferreria reported the alleged battery to a security supervisor and filed an official report with the University of Oregon regarding the incident.
Ferreria is suing on one count of battery and one count of “abuse of a vulnerable person,” according to the legal complaint. Ferreria claims that UO is also liable in the incident suing for the $176k dollars of economic damages in addition to another $700k in non-economic damages.
In a statement to the Emerald, the UO General Legal Counsel said “We [UO General Legal Counsel] will seek to be dismissed from the case as the Phish concert was not a UO event and security personnel at issue were not UO employees. UO leased space to Live Nation, a company that coordinates such leases for various performances. Starplex/CMS provided event security.”
The General Counsel said Starplex/CMS personnel are not UO employees, and as such the persons involved with this matter were not employed by UO.
Ferreria has refused to settle in court and is demanding a jury trial in the case. A trial date has yet to be set.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
