The counterclaim was filed in federal court in Los Angeles on Tuesday, saying West’s Very Good Touring Inc had failed to cooperate in the insurance company’s investigation into the claim for canceled concerts, according to the court documents.

Without going into details, Lloyd’s also noted that its policies exclude any losses caused directly or indirectly by the possession or use of illegal drugs, the impact of prescription drugs not used as prescribed, or the use of alcohol.

The court documents said in order to protect West “from public disclosure of details of his private life,” Lloyd’s would not include specific information it had obtained in relation to the claim. Lloyd’s did say the underwriters’ investigation found “substantial irregularities in Mr. West’s medical history.”

West, 40, sued Lloyd’s, an insurance market housing more than 80 syndicates in London, for nearly $10 million in insurance payouts after he abruptly canceled his Saint Pablo tour in November 2016 with more than 20 shows left.

The musician’s lawsuit, filed in early August, said he was hospitalized with a “serious, debilitating medical condition,” following a week of no-shows, curtailed concerts and on-stage political rants.

West’s lawsuit said Lloyd’s had suggested “they may deny coverage of the claim on the unsupportable contention that use of marijuana by Kanye caused the medical condition.”

In its countersuit, Lloyd’s said West’s company and other representatives “have delayed, hindered, stalled and or refused to provide information both relevant and necessary for Underwriters to complete their investigation of the claim.”

“Underwriters are informed and believe, and thereon these same persons have willfully concealed and or misrepresented relevant facts in an effort to thwart Underwriters’ investigation,” the counterclaim added.

West’s lawyer, Howard E. King, said in a statement on Wednesday that Lloyd’s did not “want to honor a legitimate claim but can’t find a factual basis to deny a claim.”

Lloyd’s is seeking a jury trial. Representatives did not immediately return requests for comment.

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Source: Reuters

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Very Good Touring claims Lloyd’s is hinting it’ll refuse to pay out because of a medical condition, caused by marijuana use, that led to dates being called off – something he denies.

The company is also demanding interest payment for alleged breach of contract.

Lawyer Howard King wrote in court papers: “They [have not] provided anything approaching a coherent explanation about why they have not paid, or any indication if they will ever pay or even make a coverage decision, implying that Kanye’s use of marijuana may provide them with the basis to deny the claim.”

Kanye West cancelled the final 21 dates of his Saint Pablo Tour last November and was admitted to hospital.

According to legal papers, the 40-year-old spent “hundreds of thousands of dollars” on insurance with Lloyd’s to cover the costs of a cancellation but hasn’t received any payment yet.

Kanye’s Saint Pablo Tour was set to run until 31 December but was called off after the rapper spent eight days in a neuropsychiatric centre at UCLA in Los Angeles.

Mr King, who represents Kanye West’s company, denies any allegations that cannabis use led to his “serious, debilitating medical condition” as an “unsupportable contention”.

The court papers, first seen by the Hollywood Reporter, say Lloyd’s brought in a lawyer to deal with the claim.

“Immediately turning to legal counsel made it clear that Defendants’ goal was to hunt for any ostensible excuse, no matter how fanciful, to deny coverage or to manoeuvre themselves into a position of trying to negotiate a discount on the loss payment.”

Mr King also accuses Lloyd’s of “maliciously” sharing confidential information with news outlets about Kanye West to intimidate him from taking legal action.

And the lawyer criticises Lloyd’s business model, claiming it accepts “bounteous” premiums and then runs “unending” investigations to avoid making payout decisions.
“The artists think they’re buying peace of mind. The insurers know they’re just selling a ticket to the courthouse,” he wrote.

“The stalling is emblematic of a broader modus operandi of the insurers of never-ending post-claim underwriting where the insurers hunt for some contrived excuse not to pay.”
A spokeswoman for Lloyd’s of London declined to discuss the Kanye West legal action, saying: “We’re not able to comment on matters in litigation.”

Kanye West was admitted to hospital after a series of erratic comments on stage last November, including alleging that JAY-Z was sending hitmen to kill him and ranting that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg hadn’t paid his $53m (£40m) debt.

The rapper also told an audience in California that he hadn’t voted in the US election but would have backed Donald Trump.

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Source: BBC

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That’s the challenge Sia issued to Kanye West, hours before he unveiled his latest fashion collection.

The pop star tweeted her question to Kanye, linking to a YouTube video that contained harrowing scenes of rabbits being slaughtered for their coats.

“This is the reality of fur ,” said Sia. “It’s so sad.”

West’s Yeezy Season 5 appeared to include both fur coats and accessories.

The most striking item was a floor-sweeping fur coat, showcased by hijab-wearing model Halima Aden, who was the first Miss Minnesota contestant to compete wearing a hijab and burkini.

Vogue magazine said the garments were faux fur, although the BBC has been unable to verify that report.

It is not the first time that Sia – who worked with Kanye on songs including Wolves and Reaper – has challenged celebrities over animal rights.

Last June, she tweeted the same video at Kanye’s wife, Kim Kardashian, writing, “Hey @KimKardashian I think you’re lovely. Would you consider going fur free? This is what animals go through for it.”

In December, after rapper Azealia Banks posted an Instagram video apparently showing the remains of several chickens killed in a witchcraft ritual, Sia tweeted, “Sacrificing animals for your gain is the wackest [thing] I’ve ever heard.”

The Australian singer is a vegan and supporter of animal rights’ group Peta.

Kanye’s show won praise from critics, who called it his most “demure” show yet and welcomed the fashion range’s expanding colour palette – he added blues and reds to the line’s traditional black and brown colour scheme.

Unlike last year’s show – a massive production that required models to stand still for hours in the middle of a New York heatwave, causing some to faint – the Season 5 launch was decidedly low-key, with images projected one by one onto the surface of a giant black rectangle, from a live feed of models standing on a turntable backstage.

Photographers were not allowed – and Kanye didn’t even appear to take a bow at the end of the 13-minute spectacle.

The audience, apparently conditioned to expect more drama at the rapper’s fashion shows, remained seated for almost five minutes after the lights went up before finally shuffling out to their next appointment at New York Fashion Week.

Among those watching the launch were Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Hailey Baldwin, Zoe Kravitz, ASAP Ferg, Anna Wintour, Pusha T and Teyana Taylor.

The collection itself featured a lot of denim, paired with knee-high boots and a new shoe dubbed the Yeezy Runner.

Hoodies and bomber jackets also featured heavily, many sporting the Adidas stripes, while sweatshirts were stamped with the phrase Lost Hills – the name of Kanye’s forthcoming album with Drake.

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Source: BBC

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West’s reality star wife, Kim Kardashian, pulled out of an expected appearance in New York on Monday night to be with her husband, who was taken to a Los Angeles hospital after police responded to a call for help, U.S. media reported.

Representatives for the 39 year-old musician did not return calls for comment on Tuesday on how long West was expected to remain in the hospital. He was hospitalized after a series of rants and concert cancellations in California last week.

A source close to the “Jesus Walks” singer told People magazine on Tuesday that West was dealing with exhaustion and sleep deprivation as well as a wider spiritual crisis.

“He feels like he’s under spiritual attack, and has been for a while,” the source told People.

“Sometimes, darkness creeps in, and Kanye wrestles against it. He talks about that a lot. It’s exhausting, and it takes everything he’s got. He’s just so tired now; he’s very low energy and feels like there’s a grieving in his spirit. It’s very hard to explain, but something has happened recently, where he’s not the ‘Ye that everyone knows,” the source added.

“‘Ye’ is a nickname for West.

His mother-in-law, Kris Jenner, told celebrity outlet Extra on Monday night that the singer was “just really tired. He’s had a grueling tour and it’s been a grind, so he just needs to rest.”

Celebrities rallied around West.

“Praying for Kanye. Praying he has the right energy surrounding him during this time. Sending peace and love,” singer and actress Janelle Monae posted on Twitter.

Actor Marlon Wayans tweeted “And I hope u all pray for @kanyewest too. He’s not just an artist but he’s a father, a son a husband and above human. Get well soon.”

West, who was promoting his current album “The Life of Pablo,” made headlines last week when he was booed at his San Jose, California, concert for declaring his support for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

He canceled a concert in Los Angeles at the last minute on Sunday, and on Saturday walked off stage in Sacramento, California, after 30 minutes during which he took aim at Beyonce, Jay Z, the media, and the music industry in general.

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Source: Reuters

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