On February 13, 2026, the King County Superior Court denied Live Nation’s motion for summary judgment in the civil case arising out of the shooting at the Beyond Wonderland music festival at the Gorge Amphitheatre in June 2023.
The lawsuit was filed by the families of Brandy Escamilla and Josilyn Ruiz, who were killed during the incident. Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP (“PSR”) attorneys Brian Panish, Spencer Lucas, and Hunter Norton represent the Escamilla and Ruiz families in the case.
Background of the Incident
According to court filings, the shooting occurred during the two-day electronic music festival held at the Gorge Amphitheatre campground in Grant County, Washington. Plaintiffs allege that the shooter entered the campground area with a firearm and later opened fire, resulting in the deaths of Ms. Escamilla and Ms. Ruiz and injuries to others.
The civil complaint alleges that multiple entities involved in organizing, managing, and securing the festival—including Live Nation and related companies—failed to implement and enforce reasonable security measures designed to prevent weapons from entering the venue and campground areas. Live Nation has denied liability.
The individual accused of carrying out the shooting faces separate criminal proceedings.
The Court’s Decision
Live Nation asked the Court to dismiss the claims against it before trial, arguing that it had no legal duty to protect festivalgoers from what it characterized as an unforeseeable criminal act. After reviewing the written submissions and hearing oral argument by PSR’s attorneys, the Court denied the motion for summary judgment. The written order incorporates the Court’s oral ruling from the February 13 hearing. As a result of this ruling, the case will proceed toward trial.
Why This Matters
Summary judgment is granted only when there are no genuine disputes of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. The Court’s ruling means that factual issues remain for determination by a jury.
The plaintiffs contend that risks associated with large-scale events require comprehensive security planning and enforcement of policies regarding firearms and campground access. Live Nation disputes those claims and maintains that it acted appropriately under the circumstances.
These issues will now be examined through the normal course of litigation.
Moving Forward
The case now proceeds toward trial, where a jury will have the opportunity to hear the evidence and determine responsibility under the law. Out of respect for the ongoing proceedings, we will not comment on specific evidence beyond what is reflected in the public record. We remain committed to advocating for our clients as the Escamilla and Ruiz families continue to seek accountability and answers through the civil justice system.