Mother of Bartlett man who died at concert sues Aragon Ballroom
The mother of a Bartlett man who died last year when he fell off a catwalk while attending a Chevelle concert at Chicago's Aragon Ballroom is suing the concert venue and Live Nation.
Denise Kirchhoff filed the lawsuit alleging wrongful death and negligence in Cook County circuit court March 10 as the administrator of her son's estate. She is seeking more than $50,000 plus costs and has asked for a jury trial.
Kyle Kirchhoff, then 24, attended the concert that featured bands The Used and Chevelle on May 22, 2015, with two friends. The group found an unlocked door they thought led to a balcony and went up a staircase that led to a poorly lit catwalk, according to the lawsuit.
Kirchhoff fell about four feet from an elevated portion of the catwalk to the floor where there were cords, wooden planks and protruding metal rods.
An autopsy conducted by the Cook County medical examiner determined Kirchhoff died of "blunt penetrating trauma of the chest" from falling onto the protruding metal rods.
The lawsuit argues The Aragon should have known the dimly lit catwalk and protruding metal rods presented danger and the door leading to the catwalk should have been locked.
Denise Kirchhoff's attorney, Bruno Marasso, could not be immediately reached Friday.
Kyle Kirchhoff graduated from Bartlett High School in 2009. In 2013, he graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, where he then served as an assistant football coach for one year. He also coached at the College of DuPage.