(WIBC.com photo: Ernie Mills)

Two Indiana law firms are sparring over lawsuits filed in the State Fair stage collapse.

Listen:


Attorney Kenneth Allen filed a suit on behalf of the family of Tammy VanDam, who was killed in the collapse.

Allen says a class action suit filed by Cohen and Malad of Indianapolis on behalf of any person injured physically or emotionally should not apply and "muddies the waters."

Cohen & Malad attorney Irwin Levin says his firm filed the class action lawsuit after clients who were physically or emotionally injured in the collapse were referred to his firm.

Levin says Indiana law allows anyone who was impacted at all after witnessing the collapse is entitled to compensation.

Allen says he feels the class action is not appropriate under Indiana law and expects it could be dismissed. Irwin counters that the class action provides relief for someone who's injured or has post traumatic stress disorder and somehow wouldn't come forward within the regular statute of limitations.

Several defendants are named in each suit.