SXSW festival is facing a class-action lawsuit after organizers said they would not offer ticket refunds for its cancelled 2020 festival.
According to Billboard, the suit was filed in Texas federal court last Friday by Maria Bromley and Kleber Pauta, two 2020 ticket-holders who each allegedly spent more than $1,000 to attend this year's festival. The plaintiffs claim "breach of contract and unjust enrichment" over the no-refund policy.
Following the cancelation, SXSW informed ticket-holders they could get free registration for future festivals and a 50 percent discount for SXSW 2021, 2022, or 2023. The lawsuit states that these alternatives were announced by organizers on March 12 and expire on April 30, however, it "cannot be certain that future festivals will occur."
"SXSW has, in effect, shifted the burden of the Covid-19 pandemic onto festivalgoers... individuals who in these desperate times may sorely need the money they paid to SXSW for a festival that never occurred," the lawsuit reads.
