Case List

Dispute: Breach of Contract: Literary

26-0385 Client is an author. Client entered agreements with a publishing company to publish his books. Client paid the company, and the company kept the money but has now blocked all communication. Client seeks legal assistance evaluating and implementing the appropriate next steps.

Nonprofit: Merger/Affiliations: Performance Art

26-0379 Client is a live performance NFP, offering programs to the trans and nonbinary creative community. Client has a fiscal sponsee and seeks to transfer all programs, funds, and IP to a different fiscal sponsor. Client seeks legal assistance reviewing and finalizing the program transfer agreement.

Trademark Infringement: Music

26-0372 Client is a musician and DJ. Client has recently started a freelance DJ company. Client was employed by a DJ company. That company is now sending cease and desist letters as they feel that Client’s name is too similar to their company name. Client needs legal assistance responding to this letter and evaluating how/whether to defend the current name.

Dispute: Nonpayment: Film/TV

26-0367 Client works in film and television. Client recently completed a job and didn’t not receive full payment. Client already contacted the company to receive pay, but the company did not fully pay back the Client. Client now seeks legal help in obtaining full payment.

Copyright Evaluation/Clearance: Life Rights: Theater

26-0361 Client is a theater NFP. Client’s playwright has written a play about a real life historical figure that includes references to the figure’s appearances on tv. Client would like legal assistance obtaining life rights as well as evaluating what, if any, other rights might be needed to produce the play.

Real Estate: Settlement Agreement Review: Theater

26-0358 Client is a well established theater NFP. Client obtained a property from the city back in 2011, but never developed pursuant the redevelopment agreement. The city is now repossessing the property and has sent Client a settlement agreement. Client needs legal assistance reviewing the agreement for potential liability.

Nonprofit: Formation/Maintenance: Music

26-0354 Client is a choir NFP. Client seeks to combine and collaborate with another choir nonprofit entity in Chicago. Client needs legal assistance evaluating how to best structure for this relationship as well as help drafting any agreements and documentation to formalize this collaboration.

Landlord-Tenant: Commercial Lease: Music

26-0343 Client runs a recording studio. Client rents out a space for this studio. The space experienced an electrical fire recently and discovered that many of the outlets in the property were not grounded. Additionally, Client recently received the past 2+ years worth of trash and water bills all at once, which Client suspects was due to a clerical error. Client needs legal assistance evaluating these issues for potential violation of the lease agreement as well as advice on how to remedy the situation.

Dispute: VARA: Visual Arts

26-0339 Client is a visual artist. Client owned and operated an art gallery in Illinois that commissioned a mural to be painted on the exterior wall of the building. Years ago, the city previously attempted to tear down the building and Client brought a VARA claim that was ultimately dropped once the city decided not to move forward with destruction of the building. The city has once again decided that they seek to tear down the building to make way for a new development and has sent Client a letter demanding payment should Client seek to preserve the mural. Client needs assistance responding to this letter and reasserting their VARA rights over the mural.

Dispute: Landlord/Tenant: Literary/Film/TV

26-0333 Client is a writer, speaker, and actor. Client recently had to move out of an apartment out of state due to uninhabitable living conditions including black mold on the premises. Client filmed a talk show out of this residence, sponsored in part by the property management company who did not respond to Client’s complaints about conditions. Client had to relocate for health reasons associated with the living conditions and seeks legal assistance bringing a claim against the property management.

Personal Injury: Theater

26-0328 Client is an actor and performer. Client is part of group that performs in various spaces. Client was rehearsing for a performance in an art gallery and fell. Client has been unable to perform resulting in loss of pay and has incurred medical expenses for physical therapy and specialists. The art gallery initially claimed they had liability insurance, though have subsequently prevented Client from bringing a claim. Client seeks legal representation to hold the art gallery to their insurance obligations and accept Client’s claim for coverage.

Copyright Clearance: Fair Use Letter: Film/TV

26-0327 Client is a comedian and filmmaker. Client made a short that includes copyrighted materials. Client needs review of work and fair use opinion letter to allow for distribution and screenings of the short.

Copyright Infringement: Photography

26-0325 Client is a filmmaker. Client received a demand letter to remove an image from a personal portfolio website. Client complied with request immediately and took the image down. Months later, the same entity brought a demand letter for a settlement amount to avoid further legal action. Client now needs legal assistance drafting a response to this demand letter.

Copyright Infringement: Film/TV

26-0322 Client is a novelist, screenwriter, and filmmaker. Client wrote a screenplay many years ago and recently came across a film that is significantly similar to Client’s copyrighted work. Client seeks legal assistance evaluating claims for copyright infringement based on the similarities.

Contract Drafting: Copyright: Film/TV

26-0321 Client is a filmmaker. Client is working on a project with collaborator and needs the understanding between the two parties memorialized into a formal written agreement.

Dispute: Breach of Contract: Film/TV

26-0319 Client is a producer and executive director of a multi-disciplinary artist event NFP. Client is producing, in affiliation with the NFP, a documentary film. Client terminated the contract with an editor working on the film. That editor now refuses to return footage, project files, and work product to Client, preventing the film from being completed. Client has made repeated attempts to amicably resolve this issue, including offering payment. Client now seeks legal assistance in retrieving company property from this previous editor as well as evaluating any claims for damages arising from delays caused by this behavior.

NonProfit: Formation/Maintenance: Music

26-0311 Client seeks to form a private foundation NFP. Client already has an EIN and needs legal assistance filing for tax exempt status, as well as drafting the trust agreement necessary for securing and protecting the funding for the organization.

Employment: General Policies: Theater

26-0308 Client is a theater NFP. Client has not updated its employment policies in a number of years. Due to that as well as a current issue with an employee, Client needs legal assistance reviewing and updating its employee handbook.

Dispute: Copyright Infringement: Music

26-0292 Client is a singer-songwriter and recording artist. Client is currently in a copyright dispute over a beat used in a song and video release.
Client attempted to verify ownership of a similar beat, but could not identify the owner, so they created a similar beat. Owner of the original beat, then claimed the similar beat is an infringement. The opposing party is now seeking damages. Client filed pro se appearance and now needs legal representation to respond to the complaint and proceed through litigation.

Contract Drafting: Copyright: Film/TV

26-0289 Client is a documentary filmmaker. Client is in post-production stage of current documentary project that includes musical recordings, interviews, and archival footage. Client seeks legal assistance ensuring all necessary releases and permissions have been obtained properly as well as an evaluation of potential liability, including review of copyright clearance and defamation claims.

Dispute: Social Media: Theater/Live Performance

26-0286 Client is an actor, producer, director, and writer. Client recently had social media accounts, which she uses primarily for business purposes, including the account of her theatre partnership, which she managed, actioned for an alleged violation of policy that never occurred. Client has exhausted internal procedures with the social media company, and now seeks legal advice in next steps that should be taken to have accounts restored

Contract Drafting: Cultural Heritage NFP

26-0280 Client is a Chicago cultural heritage and preservation NFP. Client is in talks with the City of Chicago to install historical markers around the city capturing famous and historically noteworthy locations around the city. Client needs assistance drafting the contract with the city to begin this project.

Dispute: Real Estate: HOA: Live Performance

26-0278 Client is a performer. Client is experiencing issues with current HOA, where they are potentially charging occupants for repairs and maintenance in ways that violate the bylaws agreement. Client needs legal assistance evaluating whether these expenses violate the bylaws, and if so, Client needs advice on how to enforce the agreement.

Dispute: Breach of Contract: Art Installation

26-0267 Client is a visual artist who explores tactile media. Client completed a sculpture piece for the city out of living trees. The agreement with the city stated that the work would be returned to Client if and when the piece was taken down. Instead the city destroyed the works. Client has initiated litigation against the city and needs representation for the breach of contract and destruction of art case.

Employment: Recovery of Property: NFP

26-0263 Client is an arts and humanities NFP. Client recently had a board member pass away and needs to recover company equipment from the recently deceased board member’s home. The widowed spouse is unresponsive and is not allowing people to enter the premises in order to obtain this company property. Client needs legal assistance drafting demand letter and advice on next steps in order to obtain this property.

Dispute: Breach of Contract: Animation

26-0253 Client is an animator. Client seeks legal assistance regarding unpaid compensation for completed work performed under a signed agreement. Client had an attorney previously and filed a lawsuit, however, the case was dismissed for want of prosecution. Client has since ended relationship with that attorney and seeks legal assistance in refiling this breach of contract matter to obtain compensation still owed.

Dispute: Breach of Contract: Book Distribution

26-0241 Client is an author. Client is working with a publisher, and submitted the final edit earlier this year. Publisher then informed Client they had paused production indefinitely. When Client asked to terminate agreement to publish elsewhere, publisher demanded payment of $1200 for “editing fees” not included in contract and threatened to delete communication logs and engage in arbitration, as well as banning Client from their online community. Client needs legal assistance evaluating claim for breach of contract, as well as help regaining the rights to the underlying work.

Nonprofit: Formation/Maintenance: Music

26-0239 Client is a an organization seeking to put on a music festival. Client needs legal assistance establishing nonprofit entity around these efforts as well as obtaining 501(c)(3) status. Client also potentially needs assistance obtaining event insurance for the related music festival.

Contract Review: IP Advice: Film/TV

26-0230 Client is a filmmaker. Client is working on three separate projects. For the first, Client needs legal assistance reviewing a director’s agreement with a production company. Additionally, Client needs legal advice on how to obtain the necessary permissions from a deceased musician’s estate for a music documentary, including acquiring rights to a previously unreleased recorded interview, as well as advice on registering a recently written screenplay for the necessary copyright protection.

Copyright Infringement: Film/TV

26-0211 Client is a screenwriter and filmmaker. Client found their entire indie film uploaded to YouTube without permission that had garnered hundreds of thousands of views. Client sent a takedown notice to this channel. The channel temporarily took the video down, but did not delete it from their records. Despite never bringing a counter-notice, this YouTube channel subsequently re-uploaded the video. Client brought another takedown notice, and the YouTube channel then took the video down again. Client needs assistance evaluating their copyright infringement claim, as well as what potential damages may be sought for the unauthorized distribution of this film.

Dispute: Breach of Contract: Collection: Book Distribution

26-0191 Client is an established, award-winning nonprofit poetry press operating under a distribution agreement with a Chicago-based national book distributor. The distributor has engaged in sustained conduct, including withheld payments, excessive and inadequately defined fee deductions, and delivery of misprinted inventory. Two formal written demands have gone unresolved. Client presents a prepared litigation brief and seeks Illinois counsel to evaluate breach-of-contract claims and pursue recovery.

Copyright Registration: Estate Planning: Literary

26-0172 Client’s uncle was a comic book author. The uncle passed away, leaving estate including catalog of intellectual property in the form of comic books and illustrations to Client. Client needs assistance managing this IP portfolio as well as setting up systems to collect royalties from the continued use of this IP.

NonProfit: Formation/Maintenance: Dance/Performance Art

26-0163 Client is a dance, theater, and performing arts NFP. Client has had a building use agreement in place with a church for 2 years. The church recently proposed an updated agreement. Client needs assistance reviewing and negotiating the proposed agreement to ensure mutual expectations are met and protect both organizations in the future.

Business Formation: Tax: Film

26-0159 Client is a film LLC. Client is seeking funding for projects through a grant and needs legal advice from a tax attorney on financial practices, tax obligations, reporting, and compliance requirements related to current and ongoing grant funding.

Copyright Infringement: Visual Art

26-0151 Client runs a creative content and marketing agency. Client entered into an independent contractor agreement, containing no mention of work-for-hire, with a company to create photography and digital assets for marketing and branding. Company terminated the relationship, and refused to pay the full amount owed, as well as is continuing to use the generated works without a license, despite Client sending a cease and desist. Client seeks assistance evaluating claims for breach of contract and copyright infringement. Client registered these works within 3 months of first publication and believes the infringement to be willful.

Dispute: Breach of Contract: Book Distribution

26-0143 Client is an author and educator. Client has a deal with a publishing company. The company has not held up certain contract terms including registration of copyrights, failing to meet production specifications, and withholding payment. Client needs assistance evaluating breach of contract claims as well as issuing demand letter for outstanding payments.

Dispute: Real Estate: HOA: Music

26-0129 Client is a musician and visual artist. Client’s home pipes leaked into their downstairs neighbors home. Client lives in owner’s only building managed by a homeowner’s association. The downstairs neighbor is asking for Client to pay for this damage, Client believes it should be covered by HOA insurance. Client needs legal assistance in resolving this matter.

Dispute: Breach of Contract: Literature

26-0128 Client is an author. Client engaged in an agreement with a book publisher. Book publisher has had unreliable communication, has shipped Client damaged books, and is performing services not in the original agreement. Client needs help evaluating claims for breach of contract and securing a return of funds paid.

Estate Planning: Visual Art

26-0100 Client is a visual artist, researcher, and nonprofit administrator. Client’s mentor recently passed, leaving an archive of artistic works. Client needs assistance setting up the formal structure that will manage the archive.

Nonprofit: Guardianship: Visual Art

26-0081 Client is an NFP art studio and gallery that supports Chicago visual artists living with mental and developmental disabilities. Client has an artist with serious cognitive impairments who cannot manage their affairs and requires a legal guardian. Client needs legal assistance applying for public guardianship.

Copyright Clearance: Fair Use Opinion Letter: Film

26-0073 Client is a documentary filmmaker. Client created a documentary that features clips of newscasts from a number of different sources as well as some other found footage taken from social media sources. Client needs legal assistance evaluating these materials and generating a fair use opinion letter.

Dispute: Litigation: Performing Art

26-0070 Client is a theater professional that runs a theater producing organization that produces comedy, drag, jazz, magic and burlesque shows. Client started another business with a partner. That business was sued and Client and business partner were named as individuals in the suit. Client is no longer a part of that second business and needs legal representation to help petition the court for removal from the ongoing lawsuit as Client is no longer affiliated with the business being sued.

Dispute: Property Damage: Visual Art

26-0069 Client is a visual artist and former art teacher. Client had the parking garage door come down on Client’s car due to a parked car blocking the exit. Client received seemingly contradictory emails from the property owner in response to the damage. Property owner then turned Client’s matter over to a collection agency for the full amount of the damaged door. Client is seeking legal assistance in contesting this as well as evaluating potential claims against property owner for negligent maintenance of garage door sensors.

Dispute: Real Estate: Music/Theater

26-0023 Client is a classical soprano and pianist. Client has owned/lived in a townhouse as tenancy in common for many years, making improvements and investing in the property under the mistaken belief that Client was slowly buying out the co-tenant’s share of the property. Co-tenant’s ownership stake recently went through probate. Client needs legal assistance evaluating options and negotiating ability to continue living in the property.

Business Formation: Contract Drafting: Film/TV

26-0021 Client is a comedy writer. Client is currently creating an animated series. Client needs assistance creating a business entity for this project as well as drafting agreements for contributors and investors. Client also potentially needs assistance evaluating and filing for Illinois based film and tax credits with The Illinois Film Office.

Copyright Clearance: Fair Use Opinion Letter: Film

26-0019 Client is a documentary filmmaker. Client has made a documentary series and needs a fair use opinion letter. Client also needs help securing the rights to the music to be used in the documentary series.

Contract Drafting: Not for Profit Advice: Theater

25-1330 Client is a theater NFP. Client is putting on a production written by members of its board of directors. Client needs legal assistance to ensure nonprofit compliance rules are met as well as assistance drafting contracts for potential investors.

Dispute: Employment Termination: Visual Art

25-1326 Client is a journalist and visual artist. Client was hired by a nonprofit organization with assurances that the org had sufficient funding for the role. Client experienced a medical issue and requested the ability to work remotely. Client was terminated from the role shortly after this request and needs legal assistance evaluating a claim for discrimination as well as potential defamation as the organization has made false claims about the client related to their termination.

Nonprofit: Formation/Maintenance: Visual Art

25-1325 Client is a visual artist and long-time teaching artist who has been running her own art school. Client opened a gallery that has been donating considerable proceeds to various causes. Client seeks to start a nonprofit entity to help support teaching, creating, and selling of art. Client needs legal assistance creating foundational documents and filing for nonprofit status.

Dispute: Instrument Fraud: Music

25-1323 Client is a musician. Client purchased a violin, believing it to be worth far more than it actually is, based upon the salesperson’s description and the certificate of authenticity that was provided. Many years later, the salesperson told Client that the violin was in fact a composite and worth less than half the amount originally stated. Client seeks legal representation to evaluate a fraud claim and help to recover the money spent above and beyond the instrument’s purported worth.

Dispute: Employment Misconduct: Theater

25-1317 Client is a theater NFP. Client has an employee that was accused of misconduct. After thorough investigation, Client decided to terminate this employee. Before that happened, employee changed logins and passwords, preventing Client from moving forward with other projects, as well as threatening to sue Client. Client needs legal assistance in negotiating an amicable departure of this employee and/or advice on how to best defend itself against these threats of litigation.

Dispute: Landlord-Tenant: Visual Art

25-1316 Client is a painter, illustrator, and art educator. Client rents the space where he teaches and creates his artworks. The space has had a series of issues of disrepair, including flooding, and the landlord is largely unresponsive or hugely delayed in any fixes they provide. Client needs legal assistance evaluating a claim for damages due to potentially uninhabitable conditions.

Dispute: Real Estate: HOA: Dance

25-1311 Client is a performing artist and a writer. Client briefly fell behind on condo assessment payments. Client’s HOA has added additional late fees and attorney’s fees and is demanding full payment in order to avoid further legal action. Client received a 30-day demand letter for eviction about a number of weeks ago and is currently in discussions about coming to a mutual resolution. Client needs legal assistance in corresponding with the HOA’s legal representation to convince them to ideally allow the outstanding balance to be paid out of the sale proceeds of the property, which has been listed or to negotiate a payment plan. To also have some of the additional fees waived.

Immigration: Visa: Film/TV

25-1297 Client is an Emmy Award winning filmmaker. Client was here originally on an F1 visa and then obtained temporary work status (OPT) for a year. Client more recently obtained temporary protected status and has filed to extend that status, but not heard back on that extension request since February. Client needs help evaluating and preparing claims for permanent residence through an EB-1A, given clients extraordinary abilities in the arts.

Dispute: Employment Conditions: Literary

25-1291 Client is a writer and editor. Client previously worked for a book publisher in a strained and often hostile work environment. Client has been working through the experience in therapy. Client needs assistance evaluating potential legal claims and rights.

Dispute: Physical Injury: Theater/Dance

25-1278 Client is a performing arts NFP. Client regularly hires independent contractors for art performances and exhibitions. While warming up for one of these performances, an injury occurred to one of the dancers. The dancer has now contacted client asking for compensation and potentially lost wages. Client has a pending worker’s compensation claim, but is not optimistic due to the independent contractor status of the injured party. Client needs assistance evaluating liability as well as responding to this individual’s claims.

Business Formation: LLC: Film/TV

25-1275 Client is a group looking to create a film production company. Two members of the group are currently in the country on student visas. Client needs assistance creating and structuring the business entity. Client also needs assistance with obtaining the necessary work visas for two individuals so that they can actively work for the new formed business entity.

Nonprofit: Formation/Maintenance: Literature

25-1266 Client is a literary production NFP. Client recently lost funding through the NEA, and attempted to apply to a prominent arts relief fund, but was unable to get any response from that organization. Client needs assistance in evaluating legal actions that can be taken both to potentially obtain funding or alternatively, file complaints against the NEA and arts relief fund for potential abuse of authority.

Copyright Registration: Music

25-1255 Client is a children’s music composer and early-childhood music educator. Client created a curriculum of nearly 200 original songs and rhymes for children. Client needs assistance evaluating and registering copyright protection for these works, creating a licensing agreement for using these works/this curriculum, and identifying the owner of publishing rights for some cover songs to ensure proper allocation of any potential royalties.

Dispute: Harassment: Dance

25-1251 Client is a dance NFP. An individual is harassing and stalking employees of client and is showing up at client’s dance studio for programming under fake names. Client needs assistance evaluating legal action that can be taken to protect the studio, its customers and employees.

Dispute: HOA: Literary

25-1250 Client is a published writer. Client is currently going through an Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) case currently with an unresponsive homeowners association (HOA) for failure to provide appropriate ADA accommodations. Client has gone through all appropriate channels to no avail and needs assistance evaluating her claims against the HOA for continued lack of accommodations as well as potentially retaliatory behavior in response to client’s IDHR case.

Dispute: Breach of Contract: Talent Agency

25-1197 Client is an actress with an existing talent agency agreement. Client believes the agency breached the agency agreement and needs assistance to formally terminate the agreement.

Trademark Infringement: Music

25-1192 Client is a singer, songwriter and producer with a registered trademark for client’s stage name. Multiple third parties are using this trademarked name, and client needs assistance to protect the trademark and if necessary send cease and desist letters.

Dispute: Employment Termination: Music

25-1110 Client is a music educator. Client was terminated from their role after allegations. Client denies any wrongdoing and is seeking assistance in evaluating case for wrongful termination as well as obtaining payment for the period leading up to the termination.

Dispute: Garnished Wages: Film/TV

25-1109 Client is a multidisciplinary artist and performer whose wages have been mistakenly garnished by a state agency. Client would like assistance to properly appeal this decision and action.

Contract Drafting: Sanctions Screening: Film

25-1068 Client is documentary film NFP. Client is seeking to film a few scenes using a local camera operator in a country sanctioned by the US Treasury Department. Client seeks assistance navigating sanction requirements and obtaining the appropriate license, if required.

Dispute: NFP Board Governance

25-1039 Client is board member for a literary NFP. Client had NFP’s social media and email accounts taken over by bad actors. Those actors effectively shut down the NFP, filing unapproved paperwork changing the board structure and members, as well as closing bank accounts. Client seeks counsel in resolving this dispute and seeking remedies.

Dispute: Harassment: Visual Art

25-1026 Client is a visual artist in residence at a record store. Client has been experiencing harassing and stalking behavior directed towards them by a former colleague. Client needs help evaluating claims for harassment.

Rights of Privacy and Publicity: Clearance: Film/TV

25-1022 Client is a documentary film LLC. Client is creating a documentary film and is seeking audio testimony from previous court proceedings. Client needs assistance bringing a FOIA-type request to determine if the audio recording of this testimony exists and to ultimately obtain said recording for use in the film.

Contract Drafting: Film/TV

25-0984 Client is developing a live theatrical show to be further developed for TV/video. Client is seeking assistance drafting contracts, sponsorship agreements, waivers, and work for hire agreements associated with a the show.

Dispute: Breach of Contract: Film/TV

25-0961 Client is a photographer and videographer. Client entered into agreement with artist to direct and film a music video. Client needs assistance enforcing contractually protected crediting rights.

Dispute: Employment Termination: Music

25-0960 Client is a musician. Client’s contract for the following year was rescinded by her employer after she complained that her supervisor spoke to her inappropriately. Client is seeking assistance in negotiating the severance agreement, and and evaluating claim for lost wages as she is unable to find comparable employment.

Patent Protection: Product Design

25-0948 Client works in industrial design. Client had employment with large consumer electronics manufacturer. Client significantly contributed to design of a major product line, but was not credited in the filed patent, causing lasting harm to client’s professional career. Client seeks assistance evaluating claims for correcting patent authorship and/or damages.

Dispute: Breach of Contract: Literature

25-0933 Client is an author. Client worked with a business holding out to be a legitimate publishing company, offering to produce a screenplay from Client’s book. Client was asked to pay a large sum of money for services that were never rendered. Client now seeks legal assistance in evaluating claims for fraud and getting back the money paid.

Dispute: Employment Discrimination: Visual Art

25-0928 Client is an artist and educator. Client had job for many years as teacher, but was placed on a do not hire list. Client needs legal assistance in evaluating employment discrimination claim regarding placement on do not hire list as well as rejecting Clients formal request to be removed from this list.

Nonprofit: Formation/Maintenance: Music

25-0925 Client is a music NFP. Client needs advice on the best way to structure their nonprofit organization, and assistance in filing the necessary paperwork to create the ideal business entity for Client’s purposes.

Dispute: Employment Classification: Music

25-0920 Client is a musician/performer. Client worked with an entertainment company as an independent contractor. Client needs help evaluating whether the degree of control and nature of the work relationship would classify Client as employee and if so, Client needs help enforcing employee rights.

Rights of Privacy and Publicity: Literature

25-0895 Client is in film and television production. Client needs assistance asserting rights of privacy and publicity against an author whose character bears Client’s full name and other identifying features.

Copyright Infringement: Film/TV

25-0891 Client is a screenwriter. Client needs an attorney to represent them in a mediation to obtain compensation as well as credit for a television show that was created using client’s copyrighted work.

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.

Copyright Protection/Licensing: Clearance: Music

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: Discrimination: Literary

25-0795 Client is a former student, 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.

Dispute: Collection: Visual Art

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: 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: Employment Discrimination: Music

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.

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: Breach of Contract: Visual Art

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 Art

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.