Case List
To learn more about any of the matters on our current Case List, contact our Director of Legal Services, Stacy Baygood Streur.
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You can also view the matters listed below as a PDF document.
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 our Director of Legal Services, Stacy Baygood Streur, at 312.837.3520, or sstreur@law-arts.org.
Available Video Law Library Programming in Blue
Available Materials in Green
Thank you very much for your interest in helping LCA clients!
| Case # | Legal Category | Arts Category | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
20-1184 Pro Bono |
Contracts | Film/TV |
Contract Drafting: Copyright License: Film 20-1184 Award-winning, minority, filmmaker is producing a feature film about the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and needs a license to use the CPD logo. Client is looking for counsel to negotiate with CPD. |
|
20-1021 Pro Bono |
Contracts | Film/TV, Theater |
Contract Drafting: Film 20-1021 Client produced a multi-cultural web-series with the assistance of another producer who did the pre-production and post-production work. Client would like to split the rights to the series 50/50 and needs counsel to draft the agreement. |
|
20-1051 Pro Bono |
Contracts | Literature, Music |
Contract Drafting: Music License 20-1051 Client, a poet, engaged in the EDI movement, entered into a verbal agreement with a musician to allow the musician to use one of his poems as the lyrics to a song. Client needs a written agreement for the musician that sets forth the terms of their agreement. |
|
20-1071 Pro Bono |
Contracts | Music |
Contract Review: Music Publishing Agreement. 20-1071 Electronic music producer needs counsel to review and evaluate a music publishing agreement. |
|
20-1082 Pro Bono |
Contracts | Music |
Contract Review: Work for Hire: Music 20-1082 Talented singer was hired by a composer to do a demo of a song. The composer planned to submit the demo for a television commercial contest. After the demo was submitted for the contest, client received a Work for Hire agreement from the composer. Client needs help evaluating the agreement. |
|
20-1119 Pro Bono |
Copyright Protection/Licensing | Visual Art |
Copyright Registration: Visual Art 20-1119 Client needs help with copyright registration for a deck of cards. Each has a unique design and there are seventy-two cards in the deck. |
|
20-1083 Pro Bono |
Copyright Protection/Licensing | Film/TV |
Copyright: Content Clearance: Film 20-1083 Clients are producing a film that centers on the characters playing a board game. The actual game is protected by copyright and Clients need help evaluating whether they need to secure a license from the copyright holder of the game or whether they can rely on fair use. |
|
20-1026 Pro Bono |
Copyright Protection/Licensing | Film/TV, Theater |
Copyright: Music Licensing 20-1026 Theater group that is dedicated to building community and celebrating shared humanity through meaningful stories, is planning to create digital content to use in connection with a fund-raising campaign and needs legal advice regarding music licensing. |
|
20-1008 Pro Bono |
Copyright Protection/Licensing | Film/TV |
Copyright: Public Domain 20-1008 Client is engaged in producing sketch comedy and wants to understand the limits on his use of scenes from well known movies. |
|
21-0028 Contingent Fee (PB Eligible) |
Disputes, Commercial Litigation | Visual Art |
Dispute: Collection: Visual Art 21-0028 Visual artist painted a large outdoor mural and was paid 2/3 of the full payment amount. Client needs help evaluating his claim and recovering the balance due. |
|
20-0961 Pro Bono |
Employment, Disputes | Literature, Other |
Dispute: Control of a Literary NFP 20-961 Founder of a literary NFP, that has been in existence for more than a decade, was a member of the Board of Directors and the Managing Editor of the organization when he was involuntarily removed from the Board after a new Executive Director launched a campaign to discredit and remove him from his position. Client needs help reviewing the situation and evaluating his options. |
|
20-0505 Pro Bono |
Copyright Infringement, Disputes | Film/TV, Photography |
Dispute: Copyright Infringement: Cease and Desist Letter (UK) 20-505 Client posted a blog related to living with a disability during a pandemic. A UK firm copied and posted Client's entire blog verbatim, including the pictures and video. Client needs counsel to draft a cease and desist letter to the infringer. |
|
20-0789 Pro Bono |
Disputes | Music |
Dispute: Copyright Infringement: Music (UK) 20-789 Client inherited a record label and recently discovered that a UK record label is about to release an album with music from Client's label. Client needs help evaluating a claim for copyright infringement. |
|
20-0896 Pro Bono |
Copyright Infringement, Disputes | Other |
Dispute: Copyright Infringement: YouTube Strike 20-896 Client posted a commentary on a popular ISP site, detailing rumors about the upcoming release of a popular video game. The copyright holder sent a notice and take-down request, which resulted in the content being removed from the site. Client has requested reinstatement and needs help evaluating his options in the event that the reinstatement request is denied. |
|
20-1019 Pro Bono |
Other, Disputes | Visual Art |
Dispute: Pending Litigation: Joint Work (Defense) 20-1019 Two visual artists collaborated on a series of paintings and Client is the defendant in an action by the Plaintiff to recover possession of the physical works. Client needs counsel to represent her in the litigation. |
|
21-0053 Pro Bono |
Disputes | Music |
Dispute: Recovery of Art 21-0053 Craftsman designed and built an instrument and delivered it to a customer. The customer refused to pay the agreed upon amount, and Client needs help evaluating his right to reclaim the instrument. In the alternative, Client needs help enforcing his right to full payment of the amount owed. |
|
20-1120 Pro Bono |
Disputes | Film/TV |
Dispute: Termination: Film Distribution Agreement 20-1120 Film producer (client) would like to terminate a contract with a distributor. The distributor agreed to termination but is insisting on a non-disparagement provision in the termination agreement. Client objects to the non-disparagement provision and needs help resolving the dispute. |
|
20-0943 Pro Bono |
Other | Visual Art |
Employment and Contracts and NFP: General Counsel 20-943 NFP that provides arts education and art therapy is looking for a local attorney to serve on their Board and provide legal advice on various matters as they arise. |
| 21-0043 | Employment | Film/TV, Performance Art |
Employment: Unemployment Benefits 21-0043 Client is a comedian and filmmaker who has been informed that his employment, at his day job, will be terminated in March. As a result, Client plans to apply for unemployment benefits in March, and needs help evaluating whether launching a business, as an artist, will jeopardize his unemployment benefits. |
|
20-0846 Pro Bono |
Other | Literature, Visual Art |
Estate Planning: Asset Protection: Elderly Artist 20-846 Author is concerned about a nursing home attaching her bank account and needs legal advice regarding asset protection. Client is 74 and is planning for the future. She is not currently in a residential facility. |
|
20-0520 Pro Bono |
Other | Film/TV, Music, Visual Art |
Estate Planning: Visual Art and Music 20-520 Multi-disciplinary artist engaged in visual art and music needs help drafting a will and a trust. |
|
20-0822 Pro Bono |
Other | Film/TV, Music, Visual Art |
Estate: Music 20-822 Client is a person with disabilities, his brother, a successful recording artist, passed away and client needs help evaluating any claim he might have to the assets. |
|
20-1164 Pro Bono |
Other | Literature, Other |
Estate: Poet and Songwriter 20-1164 Poet and songwriter needs help drafting a will that addresses her intellectual property rights. |
|
20-0753 Pro Bono |
Visa and Immigration | Music |
Immigration: Music 20-753 Talented pianist, a non-US citizen, whose Visa expired in August of 2020 needs counsel to review his Eb1 Visa application form. |
|
20-1086 Pro Bono |
Not for Profit Advice | Film/TV |
NFP: Dissolution: Film 20--1086 Award winning NFP film production company needs help with dissolution of the organization. |
|
21-0049 Pro Bono |
Personal Injury/Damage to Property | Music |
Personal Injury: Saxaphonist and Managing Director of Popular Music Group 21-0049 Client was injured while moving instruments at his place of employment. Client filed a workers compensation claim and needs legal help responding to the insurance company. |
|
20-1059 Pro Bono |
Business Startup/Corporate, Trademark Protection | Fashion |
Start-up and Trademark Registration: Fashion 20-1059 Fashion designer needs start-up advice, help with business structure, and assistance with trademark registration for one mark. |
|
20-1010 Pro Bono |
Business Startup/Corporate | Other, Visual Art |
Start-up: Artist and Web-designer 20-1010 Artist/gallery owner also performs website design services and would like to formalize her business structure. Client would like to set up an LLC for her individual art and her gallery, and a dba for her web-design services. Client needs legal advice regarding business structure. |
|
20-1178 Pro Bono |
Business Startup/Corporate | Dance |
Start-up: Dance 20-1178 Client needs help evaluating various business structures for an a center dedicated to African diaspora movement research. |
|
20-1054 Pro Bono |
Business Startup/Corporate | Film/TV |
Start-up: Film 20-1054 Four recent film school graduates have been invited by their, award winning, professor to co-produce a film featuring under-represented voices and need help forming an LLC for their film production company. |
|
20-1084 Pro Bono |
Business Startup/Corporate | Film/TV |
Start-up: Film 20-1084 Minority filmmaker is producing a film about a black female architect graduating from a predominantly white university. Client needs start-up advice and help with business structure. |
|
20-0769 Pro Bono |
Business Startup/Corporate, Not for Profit Advice |
Start-up: NFP Advice 20-769 Group of artists who promote cultural integration, need legal advice regarding organizational structure. They are trying to determine whether to form a NFP or a co-op. |
|
|
20-0981 Pro Bono |
Business Startup/Corporate, Not for Profit Advice | Literature, Music, Performance Art, Visual Art |
Start-up: NFP Advice 20-981 Start-up NFP organization, engaged in neighborhood revitalization, has questions about operating an art gallery as part of the NFP. |
|
20-1188 Pro Bono |
Business Startup/Corporate, Not for Profit Advice | Dance, Performance Art |
Start-up: NFP Advice 20-1188 Small performing arts NFP would like advice regarding organizational structure. They need help understanding the pros and cons of using a membership model with a large board that includes 60% independent board members. |
|
20-1063 Pro Bono |
Business Startup/Corporate, Not for Profit Advice | Arts Education |
Start-up: NFP: Architecture 20-650 For profit architectural education organization needs legal advice regarding business structure and the possibility of establishing a NFP. |
|
20-0840 Pro Bono |
Business Startup/Corporate, Not for Profit Advice | Dance, Film/TV, Literature, Music, Performance Art, Theater, Visual Art |
Start-up: NFP: Artists with Disabilities 20-840 Client plans to develop a residential facility for artists with disabilities. The artists will live and work on the premises. Client needs help determining the best business structure to employ to purchase the property. |
|
20-1033 Pro Bono |
Business Startup/Corporate | Visual Art |
Start-up: Textile Artist 20-1033 Textile artist who recently relocated to Illinois needs legal advice regarding registering her business in Illinois. |
|
20-0586 Pro Bono |
Trademark Protection | Film/TV |
Trademark Registration: Film 20-586 Filmmaker is in the process of producing an action comedy and needs help with trademark registration. |
