Widow of KISS guitar tech suing band for wrongful COVID death

nme.com:

KISS are being sued by the widow of their long-term guitar technician Francis ‘Fran’ Stueber, who passed away after contracting COVID while the band were on tour in 2021.Catherine Stueber, along with other members of her family, is claiming negligence and wrongful death.

KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, their manager Doc McGhee, the tour promoter Live Nation and the hotel chain Marriott International have been named as defendants.The suit, obtained by Rolling Stone, states: “As a direct and proximate result of the dangerous condition created by Defendants, Decedent suffered fatal injuries and Plaintiffs suffered damages, including, but not limited to funeral and burial expenses, the permanent deprivation of the love companionship, affection solace, society, comfort, assistance, services and financial contributions, and moral support of Decedent in an amount according to proof at trial.”Fran Stueber died shortly after being quarantined in a hotel room in Detroit in October 2021 during KISS’ ‘End of the Road Tour’.

The lawsuit states that “the failure to enforce or have adequate COVID-19 policies or procedures caused a COVID-19 outbreak amongst band members and tour personnel.”According to the suit, McGhee, having been contacted directly by Stueber, said he would arrange for medical attention for the technician, but it alleges he sent a member of the tour crew instead.

The crew member could not reach Stueber’s hotel room and called the police, who entered the room and found him unresponsive.Shortly after Stueber’s death, KISS denied allegations of slack COVID protocols on the tour.