Sugarland says Indiana stage collapse was an accident

iReporter Agnes Schade captured this photo after wind caused a stage to collapse at the Indiana State Fair in August 2011.

(CNN) -- Country duo Sugarland has denied negligence claims against it, responding to a lawsuit by saying that a fatal stage collapse last year at an Indiana State Fair was "a true accident, or act of God."

Several families of victims from the August incident have filed a lawsuit against Sugarland, contending it was negligent in the stage collapse that left seven people dead and more than 40 injured.

The incident occurred after a storm toppled scaffolding just as the country band was about to take the stage.

In its response, Sugarland contended that the incident was caused by a "gust of wind of unprecedented intensity," according to court documents obtained by CNN affiliate WRTV.

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The band also said "they had nothing to do with the construction of the venue" and did not have the final say if the show should happen or not.

"Sadly when a tragedy occurs, people want to point fingers and try to sensationalize the disaster. The single most important thing to Sugarland, are their fans ... for anyone to think otherwise is completely devastating to them," said Gail Gellman, the band's manager.

An attorney representing the family of one of the victims blasted Sugarland comments.

"Sugarland's response is a carefully crafted legal document that inappropriately attempts to distance the band from the responsibilities incumbent upon the show performers as to the safety of their fans ... And this spin doctoring of Sugarland's role in the case is both offensive and outlandish," said Carl Brizzi.

He represents Heather Goodrich, who lost her husband in the collapse.

Earlier this month, Indiana State Fair Commission paid a $6,300 fine imposed after state workplace safety regulators concluded the fair failed to conduct an adequate safety evaluation at the fairgrounds.

Also the Indiana Department of Labor has announced penalties totaling $80,800 in the incident, saying various companies and the state fair itself failed to comply with safety precautions.

Court and state documents reveal differing accounts of what happened.

In an affidavit from a lawsuit against one company, the fair's executive director says she twice sent the show's promoter to talk to Sugarland in an effort to delay the show.

Twice the answer came back -- we want to go on, according to the deposition by Cynthia Hoye, the executive director of the state fair, according to the court filing.

But in a separate document contained in a state report on the incident, Sugarland tour manager Helen Rollins said no one asked the band to delay its set.

The lawsuit, filed last November, seeks unspecified damages, WRTV reported.