Less than a week before Riot Fest comes to Douglas Park for the first time, St. Anthony Hospital has threatened significant legal action against the Chicago music festival.
The hospital, located at 2875 W. 19th St., sits on the southern edge of the park, and representatives claim the festival will disrupt business and cause harm to patients.
St. Anthony filed a lawsuit on Friday seeking to shut it down unless certain requirements are met.
While some of these requirements, such as a revised plot layout, change of exits and entrances to avoid the hospital, and ensuring that certain intersections are not impeded, may seem like minor inconveniences, the hospital is also asking for roughly $150,000 for damages and lawyer fees.
The hospital argues that the festival may impede ambulances and patients from getting to the building.
Riot Fest’s organizers released a statement claiming they “did 100% of what St. Anthony’s asked for.” The organizers also “worked with the Chicago Park District, Chicago Police Department, Chicago Fire Department, CTA, Office of Emergency Management and Communications” and received all necessary permits, according to the release.
Furthermore, the sound will be pointed away from the hospital and the entrance is already on Ogden, the opposite side of the park, in order to ensure the hospital entrance will remain unimpeded.
“If these were critical concerns, why did St. Anthony’s not mention them in the multiple meetings we have had since June but instead waiting until less than 10 days before the event to make the demand for $154,000,” Riot Fest co-founder Mike Petryshyn said in the release.
UPDATE: According to a report in the Chicago Tribute, the festival and hospital have reached an agreement that allowed St. Anthony's to withdraw it's complain in federal court. A joint news release expressed regret from both parties, while the festival organizers will be compelled to add additional parking in front of the hospital, put up pedestrian barricades and monitor the sound to protect patients.
