Industry News

Fyre Fest attendees win $5m

Two attendees of the ill-fated Fyre Festival that took place in the Bahamas last year have won $5m in a lawsuit against the organiser Billy McFarland.

North Carolina newspaper The News & Observer reports blogger Seth Crossno and his friend and co-plaintiff Mark Thompson had bought $13,000 VIP passes for the festival.

The pair sued McFarland for fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract, breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, negligence, unfair and deceptive trade practices and conspiracy to commit fraud against defendants.

Crossno and Thompson have been awarded $1.5m each “in compensatory damages for flights, hotels and mental anguish, pain and suffering,” according to The News & Observer, and an additional $1 million each in punitive damages.

 

 

The pair were seeking a minimum of $25,000 in damages, The News & Observer reports.

In March, McFarland pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges and agreed to serve up to a decade in prison for lying to investors and sending false documents in relation to Fyre Festival.

However, only last month, McFarland was arrested on new ticketing fraud charges. He was allegedly selling fraudulent tickets to sporting, fashion, and music events through his NYC VIP Access firm.

Image: A. Duarte