SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah technology company has sued the booking agency for The Killers, claiming the rock band wants to be paid for a scheduled show at the firm’s annual conference which was canceled because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Qualtrics LLC filed its lawsuit against Los Angeles-based SME Entertainment Group, The Deseret News reported Friday.
SME didn’t return a message Friday for comment.
Qualtrics, a software firm based in Provo and Seattle, canceled its annual X4 user summit slated for last week at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City. The event was to feature former first lady Michelle Obama among others. Qualtrics has not rescheduled the conference.
According to the company’s court filing, SME contends the coronavirus does not pose sufficient health risks to force a cancellation. But most scheduled participants and presenters supported the firm’s decision, Qualtrics said.
SME books bands, celebrities, keynote speakers and athletes for a variety of events.
Qualtrics said its decision to postpone came after considering information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Utah Department of Health, the World Health Organization and other experts on epidemiology and disease prevention.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
The vast majority of people recover. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. The world’s coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 150,000 people and killed more than 5,700.