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Band Settlement Over ADA Violations for Disabled Fan
16 Mar
Summary
- A 12-year-old girl in a wheelchair was blocked from a performance.
- The band's production company settled for $23,500.
- New ADA compliance measures and employee training were mandated.
A settlement has been reached between the family of a 12-year-old girl and a rock band's production company following an incident where the girl was denied stage access. The girl, Halle Bauman, a member of the Sioux Falls Children's Choir, was scheduled to perform with the band Foreigner in August 2024. However, her wheelchair access to the stage was blocked by the production team, despite advance notice of her disability.
Counter Productions Inc., the band's tour managers, agreed to pay the Bauman family $23,500. The company is also mandated to implement new ADA compliance measures and employee training. The United States Department of Justice announced the settlement, noting that the band members were not aware of the situation and are not responsible for the incident.
The PREMIER Center, the venue, had offered alternatives to make the stage accessible for Halle. Her mother stated that the production team cited various excuses, including pyrotechnics and last-minute reorganization needs, for not accommodating Halle. The family expressed deep disappointment, with Halle being understandably hurt and confused by the exclusion.
