Case List

Contract Drafting: Artist/Gallery & Studio Rental Agreements: Visual Arts

23-0346 Artist owns an arts space consisting of a gallery and studio space. She needs counsel to draft two standard agreements. The first is a standard artist/gallery agreement for artists that wish to display their work in her gallery. The second is a studio rental agreement for artists who wish to use her studio space.

Contract Drafting: Producer Agreement: Music

23-0712 Songwriter and musician needs counsel to draft a standard producer agreement.

Contract Review: Talent Manager Agreement: Film/TV

23-0891 Talent manager is considering signing with a larger management company and needs counsel to review the agreement.

Dispute: Allegations of Domestic Violence: Visual Art

23-0184 Nonprofit organization that provides donated supplies and equipment to arts organizations and schools recently hired two independent contractors. They later discovered that the two independent contractors are in a relationship. One independent contractor is no longer coming in due to an alleged instance of domestic violence which they claim was perpetrated by the other independent contractor. The nonprofit organization needs counsel to evaluate their options and obligations when addressing this situation.

Dispute: Breach of Contract: Literature

22-1111 Author hired an editor to help edit and publish her first book. Editor failed to appropriately proof-read the manuscript, and the book was published in a state that the author believes to constitute a breach of contract. Author needs counsel to help evaluate her options for recourse.

Dispute: Collection: Film

23-0302 Filmmaker has been distributing his film online through a large DIY distributor for nearly a decade. Recently, the filmmaker lost access to his account due to a two-factor authentication issue, and as a result, the filmmaker has not received the royalties that he is due for the last several months. Filmmaker needs counsel to help resolve the issue and recover the relevant royalties.

Dispute: Copyright Infringement: Music

23-0337 Recording artist wrote, recorded, and copyrighted a song in 2017. Shortly afterwards, he sent a copy of the song to a well known music producer and artist. A year later, the producer and artist released a song with many similar elements, including title, chord structure, rhythm, and lyrics. Client is involved in ongoing copyright infringement litigation in the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois over this dispute. Previous counsel had to withdraw and artist is seeking representation for the ongoing litigation.

Dispute: Copyright Infringement: Photography

23-0820 Photographer took a photograph on site at a local cemetery. An individual that maintains a research website regarding the cemetery has posted and made the photograph available for download without the photographer's permission. Photographer needs counsel to help evaluate a claim for copyright infringement.

Dispute: Credit and Attribution: Literary Art

23-0532 Client is the former employee of a public library. During her employment, she developed a number of educational tools for dealing with trauma. Since the end of her employment with the library, a former colleague has received significant national recognition for these tools as well as opportunity for financial benefit, and Client believes she has not be credited appropriately. She needs counsel to help evaluate her options for legal recourse.

Dispute: Damage to Property: Visual Art

23-0187 Filmmaker hired an art studio/gallery to digitally reproduce a painting. Studio/gallery allegedly destroyed the painting. Previous LCA counsel has determined that filmmaker has a viable claim for conversion, but this analysis is based on assumptions that cannot be confirmed without proceeding through discovery. Filmmaker needs counsel to help pursue this claim via litigation.

Dispute: Defamation: Theater

23-0434 Producer of a holiday-themed theatrical production has been notified a choreographer that worked on an early version of the production has been making potentially defamatory comments on social media. They need counsel to help evaluate a claim for defamation and assist with the preparation of a cease and desist letter.

Dispute: Destruction of Property: Photography

23-0824 Fine art photographer retired from her arts practice in 2016, and shortly after rented a storage locker to store some of her framed art prints. In late 2022, an overhead pipe burst that flooded the photographer's storage unit and destroyed the artwork. Her insurance provider is refusing to cover the replacement costs of the photos. Photographer needs counsel to evaluate a claim for reimbursement and, if appropriate, help negotiate with the insurance provider.

Dispute: Landlord-Tenant: Theater

23-0722 Three theater artists signed a lease for an apartment and recently moved in. Shortly after, the landlord attempted to unilaterally change the terms of the lease. The theater artists need counsel to help evaluate their rights and responsibilities.

Dispute: Loss of Property: Visual Art

23-0650 Visual artist entered into an arrangement with a local science museum to display several of her works. There is no formal exhibition agreement. Recently, one of the works was stolen from the museum. The museum refuses to compensate the artist for the loss of her work. Artist needs help evaluating her options for recourse and communicating with the museum.

Dispute: Post-Judgement Proceedings: Attorneys' Fees

23-0099 Choreographer and former plaintiff in unsuccessful civil rights arbitration against former employer needs advice in defending against order to pay award of costs assessed by arbitrator.

Dispute: Recovery of Property: Music

23-0779 Founder and co-owner of a local nightclub sold a majority of his stake in the company several years ago. As part of this agreement, the new majority owner agreed to terms requiring return of the vintage speaker system to the founder. Majority owner recently replaced the speakers, and allowed a third party to remove the speakers from the club. The third party refuses to return the speakers to the founder. Founder needs counsel to help evaluate their options and assist with recovery of the speakers.

Estates: Literature

23-0540 Writer is attempting to prepare a will using an online legal services platform and needs counsel to review the language around control of his creative assets, permissions, and royalties.

Nonprofit: Bylaws & Policies: Dance

23-0681 Dance nonprofit needs counsel to review and update their discrimination and anti-harassment and conflict of interest policies.

Real Estate: Zoning: Theater

23-0649 Nonprofit theater is renovating their new space and needs counsel to assist with a zoning change so that the organization can obtain the appropriate business and liquor licenses.