Case List

Start-up: Music

25-0828 Client is starting an open source web platform to host detailed information about live music in Chicago. Client would like assistance to form an entity, create terms and conditions, and ensure source code is properly licensed, if necessary.

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.

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.

Start-up: Podcast

25-0817 Client is a well known Chicago podcaster, formerly affiliated with WBEZ. Client would like to rebrand existing podcast content and create new episodes, and would like assistance to form an LLC and register trademark in the new company and podcast name. Client is slighty over the pro-bono threshold, and is looking for a reduced rate arrangement.

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.

Dispute: Copyright Infringement: Music

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.

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.

Trademark Registration: Film/TV

25-0757 Client is a filmmaker, and would like to register trademark in the production company name.

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.

Dispute: Breach of Contract, Design, Music

25-0718 Client is a graphic designer and artist who created album cover art for an electronic musician in 2014, in exchange for 20% of all revenue from the album. Over years the album has amassed an estimated seven figures of streaming revenue, using client’s art as the thumbnail image. The artist initially paid client, but has stopped paying an responding to requests. The artist lives in Illinois, and client would like to evaluate the possibility of taking legal action. Client would like to evaluate the possibility of a contingent fee representation.

Dispute: Breach of Contract

25-0687 Client is a filmmaker who was previously engaged as the teen programmer at a suburban public library. Client was improperly terminated by the library board, and is owed payment for services performed. Client would like assistance to draft and send a demand letter for non-payment.

Dispute: Breach of Contract: Television Writing

25-0653 Client is screenwriter who entered an agreement with a friend to collaborate on a screenplay project for a TV series. Client does not believe that the other collaborator is meeting her obligations under the agreement, and would like assistance to renegotiate the terms of their arrangement within the scope of the current situation, or to terminate the agreement.

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.

Dispute: Breach of Contract: Employment, Theater

25-0625 Client is an actor and community engagement director for a local theater company, which recently terminated several staff and ensemble members. Client was terminated without pyament for all services rendered, and offered a severance package which required a waiver of rights and signing an NDA. Client would like assistance to evaluate this separation offer and potentially take legal action for unpaid compensation and/or improper termination.

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.

Dispute: Breach of Contract: Visual Arts

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.

Contract Drafting: Artist Management

25-0573 Client is a multi-disciplinary artist, and would like to formalize a relationship with a manager. Client needs assistance to draft an agreement for management services.

Contract Drafting: Design Services

25-0558 Client is a graphic design and brand creative company, and would like assistance to draft an agreement with a client for reduced rate services in exchange for fundraising proceeds. Client is slightly above pro-bono threshold and would like a reduced rate engagement.

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: Video Production Nonpayment

25-0470 Client is filmmaker and photographer who creates multimedia content for corporate clients. Client completed several videos under an agreement for services, and then was terminated in violation of the agreement. Client needs assistance to evaluate a claim for the remaining balance, and to send a demand letter for payment. Client is just over the pro-bono threshold and is seeking a reduced rate representation.

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.

Dispute: Trademark Infringement

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.

Dispute: Breach of Contract: Visual Arts

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: Real Estate: Visual Art

24-0976 Ceramic Artist formerly held permanent easement over the roof of a building adjacent to her property for use as emergency exit from her 3rd floor apartments. In an agreement with a developer signed in October 2023, Ceramic Artist relinquished the easement on the condition that the developer construct a code compliant steel fire escape and stairwell system that would be accessible for all units of her building. Developer submitted code compliant drawings for fire escape system several months ago, but the building’s power utility moved Ceramic Artist’s gas meters without her consent, rendering the original, agreed upon design impossible. Developer then submitted secondary plans for a spiral staircase, which Ceramic Artist opposes, citing safety concerns for daily use for anyone with mobility or balance issues. Ceramic Artist needs counsel to help evaluate their rights and, if appropriate, compel the Developer to construct a more appropriate fire escape.

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.

Content Clearance: Attorney Opinion Letter: Film

24-0617 Producer of a documentary about a local martial artist needs an Attorney Opinion Letter to support their application for errors and omissions insurance.