Festival organisers admit blame for crush

The organisers of Victoria's popular Falls Festival have admitted their actions were to blame for a crowd crush that injured more than 70 people two years ago.

Ash Sounds, which runs the Lorne-based festival each summer, is facing a class action for damages over the December 2016 incident, when a stampede of people tried to leave the Grand Theatre between acts.

The action is being led by Michela Burke, who claims she suffered nerve damage and loss of sensation in her left arm as well as sleeplessness and damage to her property, as a result of the crush.

Among the failings, Ms Burke's lawyers have argued festival organisers scheduled events so large, numbers of people would be moving quickly between venues and failed to accommodate that movement.

In a formal defence, Ash Sounds admits Ms Burke suffered injury, loss and damage because of its conduct, but has not made any admissions as to the extent of those.

The court is yet to rule on what, if any, damages will be paid to those injured.