Metallica lost its lawsuit against its insurer , Lloyd's of London of the South American tour dates in 2020.
The band filed a lawsuit seeking financial compensation for shows that took place only in 2022. However, the insurance policy contracted by the group did not include cancellations due to outbreaks of communicable diseases, which removes the insurer's responsibility to compensate them financially. Metallica argues that this is "an unreasonably restrictive interpretation of the policy" and is being called a breach of contract.
The band still tried to argue that it couldn't be conclusively stated that the COVID pandemic was the cause of the 2020 cancellations, but Los Angeles Judge Holly J. Fujie ruled otherwise. Her decision, obtained by Billboard , includes the following quote:
“The travel restrictions that caused the cancellation of the shows were a direct response to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Evidence shows that the COVID-19 pandemic motivated travel restrictions to South America and restrictions on public events. Therefore, the COVID-19 pandemic was the efficient proximate cause for the cancellation of the shows.”
Therefore, Lloyd's of London was relieved of the responsibility of reimbursing Metallica for the losses incurred.
Metallica's visit to Brazil in May was filled with strong emotions, including the birth of a baby during one of the shows and an emotional outburst from James Hetfield about the weight of age.
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