Rolling Stones settle insurance dispute over Scott’s suicide
NEW YORK: The Rolling Stones said on Friday they had resolved an insurance dispute over their tour cancellation following the suicide of Mick Jagger’s girlfriend, and voiced dismay that personal details had gone public.
The feud recently came to light in court papers in the western US state of Utah, where British insurance underwriters sought to speak with the brother of Jagger’s late partner, model and designer L’Wren Scott.
The court filings said that the insurers had rejected a nearly US$12.7 million claim filed by the rock legends for calling off a tour of Australia and New Zealand after Scott hanged herself in her New York apartment in March.
A spokeswoman for Jagger said that the Rolling Stones “had, in fact, settled the insurance claim” between the time that the court papers were filed and when it was first reported by a local newspaper.
“We are deeply upset that confidential medical and other private information about members of the band and their immediate family and loved ones has entered the public domain,” the spokeswoman said in a statement.
The spokeswoman declined to give details on the resolution of the dispute.
The court documents, which accompanied a subpoena for the brother of Utah-born Scott, said that doctors had diagnosed Jagger with “acute traumatic stress disorder” and ordered the Stones frontman “not to perform for at least 30 days.”
The band claimed US$12,689,833 under an insurance policy that covered cancellation of a tour due to the “sudden and unforeseen” deaths of the band members’ loved ones including Scott, who had been involved with Jagger since 2001.
But a court document said that underwriters had denied the payment because Scott’s suicide “was an intentional act and not a sudden and unforeseen event beyond her control.”
The Rolling Stones rescheduled the tour of Australia and New Zealand, which began on Oct 25 in Adelaide. One date, in Hanging Rock in Victoria state, was called off as Jagger was suffering a throat infection. — AFP