Case List

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.

Start-up: Performing Arts

25-0723 Clients are forming a company to produce live shows combining comedy, music and performance art. Clients have already formed an LLC, but need assistance to draft an operating agreement, as well as basic form agreements for collaborators, venues and vendors.

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.

Copyright and Trademark Protection: Television

25-0713 Client is a comedian and television producer, and would like assistance to evaluate the ability to register copyright and trademark in a new reality show and its title, as well as to register materials if possible.

25-0709 Contract Drafting: Film

25-0709 Client is a writer and director, and is starting pre-production of a self written short film. Client would like assistance to draft agreements for cast and crew for this very low budget film project.

Contract Drafting: Employment Agreement

25-0685 Client is a NFP organization focused on fostering flow arts through the use of slacklines. Client has been volunteer based, but based on growth is now planning to hire instructors, and needs assistance to draft employment agreements and other necessary documentation.

Content Clearance: Theater

25-0665 Client is a writer, actor, producer and director, who has created a humorous solo stage show centering on the true story of her experience as the focus of the efforts of Breitbart.com and its followers to end the reelection of Barack Obama, due to a videotape they claimed she had. The play includes images, many taken from third party sources. Client would like assistance to review third party materials for fair use, as well as to review the content for defamation risks.

Content Clearance: Photography

25-0663 Client is a photographer who would like to publish a book of photography taken of decaying and in some cases abandoned buildings. Client would like content review to evaluate the risks of trespass or infringement claims.

Start-up: Performing Arts

25-0656 Client is a musician and stage performer, and would like assistance to draft an operating agreement for a new LLC, as well as corporate structure advice and best practices for asset management.

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.

Start-up: Film/ Video production

25-0651 Client is a newly formed LLC with two members who plan to provide art house cinema style to video marketing projects for their clients. Client would like assistance to draft an operating agreement for the LLC, as well as advice about copyright protection for their works, and asset management strategy.

Contract Drafting: Music Recording

25-0633 Clients are a rock band who released a record in 2001, and would like to facilitate a transfer of rights to another record label to reissue the record. The band and both labels have discussed terms, and would like assistance to draft an agreement capturing this arrangement.

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.

Contract Drafting: Dance, Choreography Licensing

25-0629 Client is a NFP organization representing the choreographic works of two famous choreographers. Client would like assistance to negotiate with a specific dancer for services, as well as their licensing agent.

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.

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.

Content Clearance: Theater

25-0586 Client is a theater company with an upcoming production based on a popular film property. Client needs assistance to review and clear the material for a determination of fair use or licensing.

Dispute: Copyright Infringement: Music Theater

25-0583 Client has a group which performs a musical revue containing songs from a popular theatrical and movie production. After several performances, client received a demand for payment based on past performances, from a theatrical rights organization representing the production. Client needs assistance to respond to the letter and negotiate license terms.

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.

Estate Planning: Actor/ Director

25-0567 Client is a freelance actor and director, and would like assistance with estate planning and to draft a will. Client is slightly over the pro-bono threshold, and would like a reduced rate.

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.

Contract Drafting: Contest: Film/ TV

25-0545 Client is a NFP supporting workers in the television and film industries, and would like assistance to draft rules and terms and conditions for an upcoming acting contest they are conducting.

Content Review: Theater

25-0535 Client is a playwright whose work was selected to be performed at a theater festival. Given the nature of the play’s content, client needs assistance to review and evaluate the script for defamation concerns, to review disclaimer language and evaluate the need for errors and omissions coverage.

Dispute: Copyright Infringement: Literature

25-0525 Client is an author, and suspects that manuscript work has been stolen by a former writing professor in an elaborate email and cloud drive hacking incident(s). Client believes that some works have been incorporated into already released literary and television works, and others have been circulated for future publication. Client needs assistance to evaluate a claim for copyright infringement.

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

25-0008 Client is a musician, chef and media producer, and has registered trademarks in variations of “Rock and Roll Kitchen” under classes for media production and a physical bar and restaurant. Client identified an infringing business in New Orleans, Louisiana, and contacted them with no adequate response. Client would like assistance to evaluate a cause of action and draft a cease and desist letter.

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.

Evaluation: Copyright Infringement: Music

24-1190 Client is a producer who has posted some works on Youtube, and believes one of his beats was used by a major label producer and artist. Client would like to evaluate a claim for infringement.

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: Theater

24-1129 Client is a musician who was hired to perform sound design for a suburban theater production of The Christmas Carol in 2023. Client’s agreement had a specific right of first refusal to perform the same services in 2024. The Producing entity did not engage client for 2024, and when asked, claimed a termination of client’s agreement for cause, without any explanation of the specific cause.

Evaluation: Accounting: Music

24-1078 Client represents the estate of a well known deceased gospel artist. Client needs assistance to determine what rights and royalties are controlled by the estate, and the extent to which compositions can be licensed to third parties.

Litigation: Real Estate: Zoning

24-1059 Artist’s iconic property of 27 years, a Bucktown worker cottage with an historic front setback of 66’, is threatened by a pending adjacent development of an intrusive single-family home spread across the breadth of 2 lots. The development sought significant front setback relief that would lay ruin to artist’s property value, quality of life and long-established, community-facing gardens. These gardens and home are a routine part of neighborhood tours, which plays host to musicians and visual artists during the Bucktown Garden Walk, an annual event that raises short-funds for area public schools and civic engagement.
Due process of a variation with a public hearing was denied the artist and the community when the 3rd developer was excused from the front yard average ordinance despite concerted community and adjacent opposition. The artist was successful in reaching a compromise with developer number 2 and has been defending against this insensitive development for 4 years against 3 developers when the zoning administrator bypassed due process in an egregious administrative overreach. The Zoning administrator abused his discretion despite prolific evidence supplied by the artist and her zoning attorney illustrating that none of the legal standards and approval criteria had been met. The zoning board of appeals upheld the zoning administrator’s decision during a recent appeal of the zoning adminstrator’s decision. Artist now needs to file in circuit court for an administrative review to reverse what is largely seen as a bad decision. The artist has a seasoned zoning attorney on board (Amy Kurson) who will work in tandem with needed litigator.
This matter has received notable press in the past.

Visa/Immigration: Literature

24-1000 Writer, music journalist, and stand-up comedian needs counsel to assist her in obtaining a EB-1 Visa.

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.

Nonprofit: Planned Giving: Music

24-0903 Non-profit recording studio is developing a new planned giving program and need counsel to develop standard language for prospective donors’ estate planning documents and assistance preparing to accept non-cash gifts.

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.

Estate Planning: Visual Art/Literature

24-0312 Artist and writer needs counsel to help develop an estate plan that addresses her artistic and literary legacy.

Dispute: Breach of Contract Defense: Performance Art

24-0269 Artist used to volunteer for a nonprofit organization that celebrates Mongolian heritage. In 2022, she signed a contract with a performance venue on behalf of the nonprofit for a holiday celebration organized by the nonprofit and several other individuals. After disputes amongst the organizers, the event ended and the cash proceeds were split amongst the individual organizers. The nonprofit failed to pay the amount owed to the venue. The venue filed suit against the nonprofit and the Artist for breach of contract. The Artist was never served, all notices were sent to the registered address of the nonprofit. A default judgement was entered in February 2023. Artist was not notified of the situation until February 2024. They need counsel to help defend against this suit.