Metallica sues Lloyd’s of London underwriters over postponed show losses
Metallica is suing certain syndicates at Lloyd’s of London for allegedly refusing to pay out after the band was forced to postpone six South American shows due to Covid-19.
The rock band filed paperwork in Los Angeles Superior Court last week, according to reports, in which they alleged the insurance market had breached its contract and that they were seeking unspecific compensatory damages.
According to the filing, Metallica had a standard “cancellation, abandonment and non-appearance insurance” policy in place in case of show cancellation.
The insurers would reportedly not compensate the band because the policy had a disease exclusion.
Named defendants include Talbot Syndicate, Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe, Brit Syndicate 2987 and 2988, Munich Re Great Lakes Insurance, Worldwide Hole ‘n One, Pardus Underwriting and Does 1 through 10.
Lloyd’s said: “Lloyd’s is not an insurance company, it oversees and regulates a market of independent insurers.
“For that reason we have no information on any specific policy or law suit and in any event are not authorised to comment on matters in litigation.”
The postponed shows, which are yet to be re-scheduled, should have taken place in April 2020, during the height of first coronavirus restrictions around the world.
Metallica’s lawsuit argued the market relied on an “unreasonably restrictive interpretation” interpretation of the policy.