Dave Matthews Band

[we3luvdisney]

Dave Matthews Band Sued Over Dumped Waste

Tue Aug 24,10:49 PM ET

By MELANIE COFFEE, Associated Press Writer

CHICAGO - The state of Illinois sued the Dave Matthews Band on Tuesday for allegedly dumping up to 800 pounds of liquid human waste from a bus into the Chicago River, dousing a tour boat filled with passengers.

The lawsuit accuses the band and one of its bus drivers of violating state water pollution and public nuisance laws. It seeks $70,000 in civil penalties.

"Our driver has stated that he was not involved in this incident," band spokesman John Vlautin said in a statement. He said the band "will continue to be cooperative in this investigation."

According to the lawsuit, on Aug. 8 a bus leased by the band was heading to a downtown hotel where members were staying. As the bus crossed the Kinzie Street bridge, the driver allegedly emptied the contents of the septic tank through the bridge's metal grating into the river below.

More than 100 people on an architecture tour were showered with foul-smelling waste. The attorney general's office said no one was seriously injured.

"This incident may be unique, but that does not lessen the environmental or public health risks posed by the release of at least 800 pounds of liquid human waste into a busy waterway and onto a crowded tour boat," Attorney General Lisa Madigan said in a statement.

After the incident, the boat's captain turned the vessel around and took passengers back to the dock. Everyone received refunds, and the boat was cleaned with disinfectant.

 

[shortbun]

I was in Chicago when this happened. My friend Mike Hawthorne,
the environmental reporter for the Tribune. put this all out then. He had interviewed the bus driver, who denied it at the time. Great scoop Mike! This driver clearly thought he was above the law.
I hope HE/Driver gets in trouble and not the band as they were not ith him at the time.

 

[bellacam]

I am pretty surprised by this. I am a DMB fan from way back. They have always supported environmental causes and I don't believe this was done with the bands knowledge. Still, I am glad I was not on that boat!

 

[JayBee]

Gosh.........My DS just went to his concert -he loves this band.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I don't really know what to think, but I don't think a big time band like the DMB would even be involved in cleaning out the tour bus at all. I suspect whoever was in charge of dumping the waste , decided it would be quicker and easier to do it this way.

Having never been in a big time band like the DMB, I don't know who on the tour is responsible for emptying out the waste storage facilities but I'm guessing it is either someone who handles the bus mechanics (probably not the driver, but maybe) or a roadie.

 

[Galahad]

Dave Matthews Band Sued Over Dumped Waste

They should have been sued for the absense of melody.....

 

[Dan Murphy]

How long before we find clothing, crapped on (can we say crapped on here on the DIS?) by DMB bus, on Ebay? With buyers yet?

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/entrtainment/082504_en_davematthews.html


I guess we can.

 

[tidoublegger]

Originally posted by Dan Murphy
How long before we find clothing, crapped on (can we say crapped on here on the DIS?) by DMB bus, on Ebay? With buyers yet?

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/entrtainment/082504_en_davematthews.html


I guess we can.

 

[nuke]

I think it's strange that DMB is denying this when they have the bus on surveillence video and witnesses gave the police the tag number off the bus immediately following the incident. That is going to be one huge fine!

 

[orvilleair]

"...What would you say
Don't drop the big one..."

Agree with Nuke.

 

[Galahad]

Dave Matthews Band Could Face Criminal Charges




Earlier this week the state of Illinois whipped out a lawsuit against the Dave Matthews Band and its tour bus driver Stefan Wohl, accusing them of violating state water pollution and public nuisance laws for allegedly dumping human waste from a bus into the Chicago River onto the upper deck of a boat filled with tourists.

Now, authorities have considered criminal charges against the band and their driver.

Chicago police said surveillance footage from security cameras on nearby buildings show a bus crossing the bridge Aug. 8 as a boat full of architecture enthusiast passed underneath. They claim it was the only bus to cross at the time of the incident.

'Certainly, this is the bus that discharged this fluid,' Cmdr. Michael Chasen told the press. He added that the band's driver told police he had crossed the bridge around the time of the incident but didn't admit dumping the waste. The driver also claimed his bus had been parked at the time of the mishap.

Though DMB was in town for a show, none of the band members were on board the bus at the time of the dumping.

Dave Matthews Band spokesman John Vlautin said Wednesday that the band, who heavily support many 'green' causes, was waiting to see the surveillance footage and other evidence before making any judgment.

More than 100 people on tour boat were splattered with the foul waste dumped from the bridge. Some of the passengers suffered nausea and vomiting, and five entered a local hospital for tests. But the attorney general's office said no one was seriously injured.

The lawsuit issued by the state is seeking $70,000 in civil penalties.

Howard Learner, the executive director of the Chicago-based Environmental Law and Policy Center, said criminal charges could include violations of public nuisance laws and ordinances to protect public and health safety.

Barry Meyer

So will Dave Matthews be doing an Immodium commercial soon?

 

[DebbieB]

800 pounds? I thought I heard that wrong on the news last night.

I'm surprised they could just discharge it while the bus was moving. Don't they normally hook up a hose to an outside valve?

 

[eeyore45]

Lisa Madigan was on Good Morning America today, along with someone that was on the boat tour...

btw she stated for criminal charges they would have to prove that the driver knowingly and maliciously dumped ON the boat - (tried to hit the boat?) pretty hard to prove that is why they are going after the civil charges.

They also stated that the tour boat's insurance company is paying medical fees (lots of people were told to get Hep A vaccines) and cleaning fees...

and that the driver was alone on the bus at the time...