The supergroup Gayngs, which features members of Bon Iver (singer Justin Vernon), Har Mar Superstar, Solid Gold, The Rosebuds, Doomtree and many others, has won $100,000 (AU$95,000) in damages after being left stranded by their tour bus on their way to the Austin City Limits Festival.
The Music reports that Gayngs ended up missing their show because the bus, which contained all the band members’ equipment and belongings, drove off without them in the middle of the night.
A press release stated, “On May 18, 2011, a jury awarded the band Gayngs over $100,000 in compensatory and punitive damages in the trial of Gayngs LLC v. C.J. Starbuses, Inc. and C.J. Curtsinger.”
It was deemed that the bus company had “engaged in unfair and deceptive practices and that they maliciously prevented Gayngs from performing its concert at the 2010 Austin City Limits Music Festival.”
The incident occurred on October 10, 2010, when the bus company owner C.J. Curtsinger directed the leased bus to return “to Nashville without warning or notice.”
Curtsinger “refused to return the bus to Austin despite numerous requests from GAYNGS. Without its gear and musical equipment, GAYNGS had no choice but to cancel its highly anticipated Austin City Limits Festival show.”
Gayngs manager Nate Vernon is quoted as saying in the aftermath of the ruling, “I am extremely relieved that the jury understood the turmoil, both emotionally and financially, the band has gone through as a result of being forced to cancel our ACL performance. No amount of money can make up for being deprived of that show; however, the peace of mind which comes from justice is the next best thing.”
