Radiohead 'House of Cards': Live Nation Responsible for Toronto Stage Collapse

The Ontario Ministry of Labour has ruled that the majority of the blame for a stage collapse in Toronto that killed a Radiohead drum technician belongs to concert promoter Live Nation Canada. 

Nearly one year ago, alternative rockers Radiohead were set to play a sold out show at Toronto's Downsview Park when tragedy struck. The stage that had been erected for the show collapsed, killing drum tech Scott Johnson and injuring three others. The concert was cancelled in the aftermath.

Now the government has brought a series of thirteen charges against multiple parties involved with the show. Eight of the charges were brought against Live Nation Canada, the popular concert promoter and counterpart to the American company of the same name. Four charges were brought against Optex Staging and Services, as well as an additional charge against Domenic Cugliari, an engineer. Cugliari's charge suggests that he endangered other workers by giving negligent advice. 

The maximum value a company faces per charge is a $500,000 fine, which could result in penalties up to $4 million against Live Nation Canada. Cugliari is liable for up to $25,000 in fines if found guilty. 

The Ministry of Labour claims that Live Nation "failed to ensure the structure was designed and constructed to support or resist all likely loads and forces, it was adequately braced, there were no excessive loads and every employer complied with the act." 

Live Nation Canada has hired a new staging contractor since the incident, but maintains that "We will vigorously defend ourselves and we are confident that through this process the facts will come to light and we will be exonerated."