It's been just shy of a month since that mass casualty event at Travis Scott's Astroworld Festival in Houston, TX, on November 5, but the tragedy continues to unfurl: the death toll has risen to 10, with dozens of others seriously injured — and the rapper has since been on the receiving end of over 120 lawsuits, so he's secured legal representation from an attorney whose previous clientele includes Donald Trump.
As the Houston Chronicle originally reported on November 30 [via XXL], Scott has hired Daniel Petrocelli of Los Angeles firm O'Melveny & Myers to represent him amid the onslaught of suits.
Known for working with high-profile clients, Petrocelli defended then-presidential candidate Trump against fraud lawsuits over (now-defunct) Trump University real estate seminars in 2016. The lawyer was able to reach a $25 million USD settlement for that case.
It was apparently Petrocelli who emailed the lawyers representing the families of the 10 Astroworld victims offering to cover funeral costs on Scott's behalf on November 24. The family of nine-year-old Ezra Blount, who died on November 23, declined the offer.
"I have no doubt Mr. Scott feels remorse," attorney Bob Hilliard wrote in his rejection on behalf of the Blount family. "His journey ahead will be painful. He must face and hopefully see that he bears some of the responsibility for this tragedy."
Coming from 600 plaintiffs, the 120-plus lawsuits have been filed against Scott, Live Nation Entertainment, promoter Scoremore and Drake — among other defendants — in the wake of the deadly crowd surge. The musician has hired Houston-based criminal defense attorney Kent Schaffer for additional representation.
Recently, Public Enemy's Chuck D wrote an open letter defending Scott in the wake of the catastrophe, arguing: "I'm not buying the Young Black Man did it. He's being blamed for a crime while the old white men running the corps that Travis and his fans trusted with their lives stay quiet in the shadows, counting their money and watching their stock prices go up and up."
As the Houston Chronicle originally reported on November 30 [via XXL], Scott has hired Daniel Petrocelli of Los Angeles firm O'Melveny & Myers to represent him amid the onslaught of suits.
Known for working with high-profile clients, Petrocelli defended then-presidential candidate Trump against fraud lawsuits over (now-defunct) Trump University real estate seminars in 2016. The lawyer was able to reach a $25 million USD settlement for that case.
It was apparently Petrocelli who emailed the lawyers representing the families of the 10 Astroworld victims offering to cover funeral costs on Scott's behalf on November 24. The family of nine-year-old Ezra Blount, who died on November 23, declined the offer.
"I have no doubt Mr. Scott feels remorse," attorney Bob Hilliard wrote in his rejection on behalf of the Blount family. "His journey ahead will be painful. He must face and hopefully see that he bears some of the responsibility for this tragedy."
Coming from 600 plaintiffs, the 120-plus lawsuits have been filed against Scott, Live Nation Entertainment, promoter Scoremore and Drake — among other defendants — in the wake of the deadly crowd surge. The musician has hired Houston-based criminal defense attorney Kent Schaffer for additional representation.
Recently, Public Enemy's Chuck D wrote an open letter defending Scott in the wake of the catastrophe, arguing: "I'm not buying the Young Black Man did it. He's being blamed for a crime while the old white men running the corps that Travis and his fans trusted with their lives stay quiet in the shadows, counting their money and watching their stock prices go up and up."
