To learn more about any of the matters on our current Case List, contact our Director of Legal Services, Weston Dombroski.
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And, thank you very much for your interest in helping LCA clients!
The following is a current list LCA matters within the identified Categories.
To learn more about any of the matters on our Case List, please contact ou Associate Director of Legal Services, Christopher Johnson, at (312) 837-3521 or cjohnson@law-arts.org.
Thank you very much for your interest in helping LCA clients!
Contract Drafting: Film
25-0868 Client is a Chicago NFP that works with filmmakers. Client needs helping drafting agreements and release forms for client engagement, artist development, and online streaming.
Nonprofit: Formation/Maintenance: Music
25-0864 Client is an educational music NFP. Client received a sales tax exemption denial from IL Department of Revenue. Client needs assistance understanding why the exempt status was denied and how to go about obtaining tax exempt status.
Copyright Clearance: Music: Dance
25-0863 Client is a dance NFP. Client seeks to obtain rights to a musical work to use during a public performance in early 2026.
Dispute: Copyright Infringment:
25-0854 Client is a poet and teacher who volunteered for an organization for many years. Client had no agreement in place with the organization when client created the works. Client now needs help enforcing copyright protection as the organization is using the client’s copyrighted works on their website and in their communications.
Employment: Harassment
25-0863 Client is a performing artist. Client recently left a service job after filing a complaint of harassment. Client would like assistance evaluating cause of action around harassment and retaliatory behavior.
Copyright Protection: Image/Video: Licensing
25-0834 Client is a visual artist. Client needs help understanding and registering works as part of a classroom learning game. Client also needs assistance with licensing agreements to display and sell other artists’ work.
Dispute: Breach of Contract: Documentary Film
25-0833 Client is a documentary filmmaker with an existing contract for distribution. Client would like assistance to evaluate a claim for breach of contract based on a lack of efforts to solicit the film, as well as distributor claims for improper costs not associated to client.
Dispute: Collection: Grant Funding
25-0830 Client is a performing arts education NFP, which has received state agency funding for several years. After an audit of client finances, client was informed of improper paperwork, resulting in placement on the stop payment list, and a determination that previously paid funds must be reimbursed. Client would like assistance to evaluate the ability to appeal this determination, and a possible cause of action for violation of the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act.
Nonprofit: Formation/Maintenance: Theater
25-0825 Client is a NFP theater company looking to create a revenue share structure with its performers and would like assistance in drafting necessary documentation and agreements. Client may also need review of a new commercial lease agreement.
Nonprofit: Formation/Maintenance: Sculpture
25-0822 Client is a NFP Foundation which was formed to preserve the legacy of a well known deceased Chicago Sculptor, by establishment of a trust by the Sculptor during his life. Client believes it owns the copyright to sculptures based on this, but would like to evaluate the rights of the Sculptor’s heir(s) and the need to transfer any necessary rights.
Dispute: Copyright Infringement: Music
25-0821 Client is a musician and former member of a successful Chicago punk band. Client’s former bandmate is also her ex-partner and father of their child. Client’s ex was charged with domestic abuse against client, and issued a restraining order. Client’s ex has now sent a cease and desist, alleging defamatory statements, and return of certain property. Client disputes all allegations in the cease and desist letter, and would like assistance to respond and evaluate a cause of action.
Content Clearance: Music/ Literary
25-0820 Client is a Ukelele performer and instructor, and would like to self publish an instruction book. Client needs assistance to review the content of the book for third party copyright clearance issues, and if necessary to draft documents securing rights in third party copyrights, likenesses, and publishing.
Dispute: Breach of Contract / Copyright Infringement: Visual Art
25-0816 Client is an illustrator and graphic artist, and created works for use by an Illinois company under limited terms. Company did not acquire sufficient rights in these works but has continued to use them outside of the allowed scope. Client would like to evaluate a cause of action for breach of contract and/or copyright infringement.
25-0813 Client is a violinist and a composer, and has published works with a classical publisher in the past. The publisher released one composition without rights or consent. Client has demanded that publisher ceases and desists, but publisher refuses to respond or cease. Client would like to evaluate further legal action.
Nonprofit: Contracts: Commercial Lease
25-0805 Client is a newly formed NFP performance arts organization, and is planning to execute a long term commercial lease for their physical location. Client would like assistance to evaluate and negotiate lease terms, as well as review of lease documents.
Dispute: Breach of Contract and Discrimination
25-0795 Client is a former student at a well known Chicago Arts Institution, and claims discrimination based on a disagreement with school administrators. Client was prohibited from in-person participation and presence on campus, and would like to evaluate the ability to take legal action based on these administrative actions.
Disputes: Breach of Contract: Theater
25-0772 Client is a playwright who completed a stage production of a play, and signed an agreement with the director without fully understanding certain provisions. Client no longer wants to work with director, and would like to evaluate the ability to terminate the agreement to avoid further involvement.
Trademark Registration: Product Design
25-0760 Client is a video producer who created a novelty product, and would like assistance to evaluate the ability to register trademark in the product name. Client would also like help to draft an agreement with a product design professional and third party licenses for logos to be included on the product.
Dispute: Breach of Contract: Music
25-0756 Client is a singer and songwriter who engaged with a mixing engineer to complete songs for an upcoming album. Client would like assistance to negotiate and draft an agreement to formalize rights and responsibilities going forward.
Dispute: Copyright Infringement: Film/ TV
25-0730 Client is a writer, director and producer who co-owns a film which was released in 2018. Client recently discovered that other co-owners of the film property have created a concept for a spin-off game show, without proper license or consent from Client. Client would like to evaluate a cause of action and/or send a demand letter.
Dispute: Breach of Contract: Visual Arts
25-0719 Client is a fine arts student, and was approached by two individuals at a gallery internship, to provide administrative services for a private art exhibition at a large public venue. Client performed all services, but was told that the individuals cannot afford to pay her because of financial issues. Client needs assistance to send a demand letter and evaluate further legal action.
Contract Drafting: Visual Arts
25-0671 Client is a dancer, model and performer, and is in the process of opening an ecommerce website to sell portraits. Client would like assistance to draft terms and conditions, return policies and other necessary legal disclaimers for use on the ecommerce website.
Dispute: Nonpayment: Film/Television
25-0652 Client is a theater company staffer and freelance television producer who worked as a production assistant for a reality show production company. Client worked several days without pay, and production company refuses to pay or respond to demands. Client would like assistance to evaluate legal action to recover compensation.
Probate: Musician
25-0632 Client is a teaching artist in California. After her mother passed away in Illinois, her estate is now administered through probate. Client has reason to believe that her siblings are trying to exclude certain assets from Client’s interests, and would like an attorney to represent her interests in an administration hearing.
Dispute: NFP Board Governance
25-0628 Client is a board director for a southern Illinois arts NFP. The board has been in conflict for decades, and there are competing claims by several board members regarding the board status and rights of certain individuals. Client has been served with petition for preliminary injunction, and would like local counsel in St. Clair county to appear in consultation with another LCA attorney who will advise about board governance questions.
Trademark Protection: Performance Art
25-0612 Client founded a performance art event and contest based on the Chicago leather community. Client partnered with another individual to organize a joint event, but the parties no longer wish to work together. Client would like to evaluate a cause of action and send a cease and desist letter to prevent the former partner from using client’s contest and event name.
Disputes: Employment Discrimination
25-0605 Client is a jazz vocalist and instructor. Client believes she has been the victim of racial discrimination in her workplace based on a contract renewal offer, and has filed a complaint with the EEOC. Client would like an attorney represent her in EEOC mediation which is scheduled to take place in July, 2025.
Copyright Protection: Music
25-0590 Client is a music performance group, and would like assistance to evaluate copyright risks and protection strategy for their arrangements and recordings.
25-0578 Client is a design and visual arts company with a commercial lease for studio space in a multi-use artist community building. The lease required ninety days notice for termination, but landlord management company terminated client’s lease with two days notice, and then improperly revoked security access, depriving client of access to their leased property as well as equipment and personal property. Client needs immediate assistance to evaluate the ability to reinstate possession and if necessary bring action for breach of the lease.
Dispute: Copyright Infringement: Film
25-0556 Client is a filmmaker who worked on a project with a friend for several years, but was unable to come to an agreement about ownership rights. Client has determined that the former partner plans to release the film project without necessary rights, and would like to evaluate legal action to protect client’s contributions.
Dispute: Real Estate: Visual Art
25-0554 Client is an artist and teacher. Several years ago, client was evicted from a condominium that she owns, based on an unpaid balance from the condominium association. Client does not believe that the eviction process was performed correctly, and has not been able to obtain current information from the management company in order to reinstate rights to the property. Client needs assistance to evaluate the ability to regain possession.
Dispute: Trademark Infringement
25-0048 Client owns and operates a lifestyle website with a similar name to another website and physical store operated from California. Client prevailed in a UDRP proceeding confirming rightful ownership of her brand. The third party has proposed a settlement to avoid litigation, which Client does not agree to. Client would like assistance to negotiate and draft an acceptable settlement.
Disputes: Defamation
25-0007 Client is a local theater actor with several lead role credits. In a recent role, client developed a personal relationship with the co-star, and then the relationship ended poorly. The co-star and another actor have spread rumors among the theater community and one company in particular, alleging inappropriate behavior and improper stage protocols. These rumors have directly lead to lost work and relationships. Client would like assistance to evaluate a cause of action and draft a demand letter.
Dispute: Copyright Infringement: Literature
24-1239 Client is an author with several successful titles. Client recently discovered that many titles have been uploaded to digital book rental and archiving services, which are collecting fees and donations for access to Client books, with no consent or royalty streams. Large publishers have been successful in suing these companies for similar acts. Client would like to evaluate a cause of action to recover lost revenue from these sources.
Dispute: Copyright Infringement, Film
24-1233 Client is a television and film producer who produced 28 interviews of zoo and aquarium professionals over the course of many years. She initially gave permission to another individual to use the interviews, but later rescinded that permission and now the other individual refuses to remove videos from a website and Youtube. Client would like to either negotiate a license fee, or send a cease and desist letter and evaluate a cause of action.
24-1168 Client NFP publishes the New Art Examiner. Client needs assistance to enforce a trademark use agreement against a foreign publisher using their marks, as well as help to recover domain control from a former board member.
24-1020 Client is a nonprofit foundation which hired a third party to produce video and other marketing materials. Client paid freelancer, but has not received materials, including domain control and a co-produced video, and needs assistance to draft a demand letter and evaluate further legal action.
Dispute: Reimbursement: Visual Art
24-0983 Visual Artist received a commission from a major municipality to install a visual art piece in a public facility. Due to contractor delays, the project is significantly overbudget and the Visual Artist has been forced to cover some of these overages herself. The municipality is withholding the final payment. Previous LCA counsel has been negotiating a revision to the original agreement with the municipality and sent a demand letter for payment which has not yet received a response. Counsel expects this matter to require litigation and referred the matter back to LCA. Visual Artist needs counsel to recover the additional expenses or other form of relief.
Dispute: Collection: Visual Arts
24-0884 Visual artist was the victim of a scam perpetrated by a commercial landlord. Previous LCA counsel was able to obtain a judgment in her favor for the full amount of damages. She now needs counsel to help enforce the judgment.
Dispute: Publishing Account Access: Literature
24-0789 Children’s book author set up a self-publishing account with a large online book distributor more than 10 years ago. They are no longer able to access the account, as they no longer have access to the original phone number on file. They need counsel to communicate with the distributor and regain access to the account.
Dispute: Visual Artists Rights Act: Mosaic
24-0637 Nonprofit visual arts school specializing in mosaic art rents operates a physical location with a back patio/parking lot. This area shares a fence with the restaurant next door. The school and restaurant are tenants of the same landlord, and the shared fence is a common feature owned and maintained by the landlord. The school installed three mosaic works on their side of the fence with the permission of the landlord. Recently, the restaurant decided to expand portions of their back patio area, and, without permission from the school or landlord, instructed contractors to cut portions of the fence as part of this expansion, including portions of the fence where the mosaics were hung. The contractors cut off sections of two of the three mosaics. The school needs counsel to help evaluate a claim under the Visual Artists Rights Act, or any other form of appropriate recourse, and, if appropriate, assist with recovery of damages.
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