The parents of Sasha Rodriguez, the 15-year-old teenager that died from an ecstasy overdose at the 2010 Electric Daisy Concert at the L.A. Coliseum, have finally reached a settlement in the 5 million dollar claim that they filed alleging negligence against the venue (L.A. Coliseum) and the promoter (Pasquale Rotella) of EDC.
photo by Erik Kabik
L.A. Weekly Blog reports that the settlement notice was filed this week, but the formal paperwork still needs to be signed and submitted by the end of June. Attorney Steven Archer, who is working on the case, stated that the terms and the amount of cash of the settlement have not yet been released.
Archer states that the settlement is a global settlement against all of the defendants. The promoters of EDC, the L.A. Coliseum, Insomniac, and former Coliseum events manager Todd DeStefano will be lifted of charges if they agree to sign the settlement paperwork.
The death of Rodriguez caused investigation in the relationship between Coliseum management and EDC promoters. Through the investigation, DeStefano, Rotella, and another rave promoter, Reza Gerami, were all found guilty of using bribery, embezzlement, and conflict of interest. All of them have pleaded not guilty.
L.A. District Attorney Steve Cooley explains:
In 2008, DeStefano, Gerami, and Pasquale Rotella agreed that the two promoters would pay DeStefano personally and in exchange he would use his official position to provide them access to the Coliseum and low rates.
photo by Pamela Lin
In addition to the scandal between EDC and the Coliseum, more issues were discovered regarding events at the Coliseum. Coliseum management was not aware that a porn film was filmed at the Coliseum, and rave promoters paid union workers under the table in cash.
EDC is one of the biggest rave festivals of the year. More than 140,000 people participated in the event during the 2010 festival. It is no longer held at the Coliseum due to the Coliseum scandals and the death of Rodriguez. Last year was the first year EDC was in Las Vegas and will continue to be held in Las Vegas this year. EDC was also held in New York this past May, and will tour to Puerto Rico this August.
Only 16 and older were allowed to come to the event in 2010, and now that age limit has been raised to 18 and older.
photo by Erik Kabik
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