Lawmaker to propose one-time increase in state cap for State Fair claims

Support is growing in the Indiana Statehouse for giving more money to the victims of the Aug. 13 State Fair stage collapse.

A total of seven people were killed and dozens others were injured in the tragedy. State law limits claims against the state to $700,000 per fatality and a total of $5 million overall.

Republican Representative Jeff Espich said he will soon introduce a bill to add about $4 million to the state's compensation limit.

"We're gonna try to put a proposal together that would in effect fully compensate those who were injured to 100 percent of their injuries, at least to the claims they submitted and also the families that suffered a loss or death of a family member to try to make sure that they get the maximum allowable under the law," said Espich.


Espich cautions this would be a one-time fix for victims of the State Fair tragedy and not an overhaul of the permanent state limit.