The Texas Festival SXSW Reaches a Preliminary Settlement in a Class Action Lawsuit
SXSW was hit with a class action lawsuit in April 2020 on behalf of ticket holders who were not offered refunds after the Austin, Texas festival was canceled by the city. The festival and the plaintiffs have recently reached a settlement for the lawsuit brought by plaintiffs Maria Bromley and Kleber Pauta, according to court documents viewed by Pitchfork. A district court judge granted preliminary approval of the settlement on September 30.
The judge’s order granting the preliminary approval notes that the two parties reached the settlement “as a result of intensive, arm’s-length negotiations” during a 10-hour mediation session on December 17, 2020. The judge’s preliminary approval outlines procedures the festival needs to take in order to reach out to members of the class. A “fairness hearing” is scheduled for February 18, 2022, which will determine if the settlement should be approved as “fair, reasonable, and adequate.”
