The Rolling Stones are reportedly in a multimillion-pound legal battle with insurance underwriters over costs incurred after the cancellation of concerts following the death of Sir Mick Jagger’s girlfriend L’Wren Scott.
Sir Mick suffered “acute traumatic stress disorder” after L’Wren’s suicide earlier this year, court documents filed in the fashion designer’s home state of Utah claim.
The Stones are said to have taken out a £15 million insurance policy in the event of any shows being cancelled due to the death of family members.
L’Wren was one of 18 people on Sir Mick’s “named persons extension list”, published by the Salt Lake Tribune news site.
The group postponed their concert tour of Australia and New Zealand after her death and filed an £8 million claim for losses.
The Tribune reported that court documents claim Sir Mick was advised not to perform for at least 30 days after his 49-year-old girlfriend was found dead in her New York apartment in March.
But it said insurance underwriters have denied the claim on the basis that L’Wren might have been suffering from a mental illness, meaning her death may not be covered by the policy.
The underwriters have been granted permission to gather evidence about possible illnesses, treatments and the circumstances of L’Wren’s death from her brother Randall Bambrough, the Tribune said.
The underwriters are also said to have asked a court in New York for permission to seek similar information from L’Wren’s former personal assistant and the executor of her estate.
The band are reported to have sued the underwriters in London.
In July Sir Mick spoke to NBC’s Today show about L’Wren’s death.
“I’m doing okay. It’s difficult, you know, a very hard year,” he said. “But I got back into it by working and touring with the Stones around Europe and doing other things, including doing this great movie (James Brown biopic Get On Up).”
The rocker said he had received “a lot of support” from friends and family in the wake of the tragedy, adding: “I appreciate that.”
L’Wren had been in a relationship with Sir Mick for 13 years and was a red carpet favourite, with her dresses worn by Hollywood stars including Nicole Kidman and Penelope Cruz.
But she reportedly owed nearly £4.6 million to creditors at the time of her death.
In a statement shortly after L’Wren’s death Sir Mick wrote : “I am still struggling to understand how my lover and best friend could end her life in this tragic way.
“We spent many wonderful years together and had made a great life for ourselves. She had great presence and her talent was much admired, not least by me.
“I have been touched by the tributes that people have paid to her, and also the personal messages of support that I have received. I will never forget her.”
At the weekend the Rolling Stones were forced to cancel a performance in Melbourne, during their latest tour which includes a number of dates rescheduled after L’Wren’s death.
The promoter for the tour said Sir Mick was “under strict doctor’s orders to rest his vocal cords for the next few days in order to recuperate for the remainder of the tour”.
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