July 9, 2010

Lady Gaga Insurer Seeks Declaratory Judgment

Navigators Specialty Insurance Company v. Mermaid Music LLC; Stefani Joanne Germanotta; Team Love Child; Rob Fusari Productions LLC individually and in the right of Team Love Child LLC, Index No. 108996/2010 (Sup.Ct., N.Y. Co. filed 7/8/2010)

Plaintiff seeks a declaration that it is not required to defend and indemnify the insured, Stefani Germanotta (aka "Lady Gaga") in an underlying breach of contract action, on the basis of the policy's definition of "professional services." While the underlying complaint alleges breaches of a production agreement held between Germanotta and defendant Rob Fusari, none of these causes of action assert that the insured was negligent in the performance of music production, rendering the policy inapplicable to the claim.

'Beat It' to Promotor's Claims Against Jackson Estate

Allgood Entertainment, Inc. v. Dileo Entertainment Entertainment & Touring, Inc., et al., No. 09 Civ. 5377 (S.D.N.Y. opinion & order June 29, 2010).

"This case is about whether or not Michael Jackson, through his alleged manager Frank Dileo, agreed to perform a concert with the plaintiffs, AllGood Entertainment, Inc. and AllGood Concerts, LLC, and then later reneged on this agreement in order to perform a different concert with the defendants Anshutz Entertainment Group, AEG Live, LLC, and AEG Live NY, LLC. Plaintiffs allege breach of contract, promissory estoppel, and fraud by Frank Dileo and his management company, Dileo Entertainment and Touring, Inc., and allege tortious interference of contract on the part of Anshutz Entertainment Group and the other AEG entities; Plaintiffs also seek a permanent injunction. Both sets of defendants have moved to dismiss for failure to state a claim. For the reasons below, the tortious interference, fraud, and permanent injunction claims are DISMISSED."