To learn more about any of the matters on our current Case List, contact our Director of Legal Services, Weston Dombroski.
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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 ou Associate Director of Legal Services, Christopher Johnson, at (312) 837-3521 or cjohnson@law-arts.org.
Thank you very much for your interest in helping LCA clients!
Dispute: Breach of Contract: Film/TV
26-0644 Client is a hair and make-up artist for tv and film. Client was hired for a music video a number of months ago. The production company allegedly tried to wire money to the client for work on this shoot, but the routing was wrong. Production company told client that the bank opened an investigation and would need 90 days. It’s been over 90 days and production company says it’s still not resolved, refused client’s request for proof, and are not unresponsive to client’s requests. Client needs assistance evaluating legal options in obtaining money owed.
Nonprofit: Formation/Maintenance: Music
26-0619 Client is a music booster NFP, supporting the local music education programs. Client has been in operation for a number of years and has gone decades without updating its bylaws. Client needs legal assistance reviewing the organization’s constitution and bylaws, ensuring they are accurate and up to date.
Bankruptcy: Film/TV
26-0550 Client is an actor. Client is experiencing hardship due to having to shut down a business and move to a different state unexpectedly. Client is seeking advice and counsel on how to handle creditors and potentially declare bankruptcy/insolvency.
Nonprofit: Formation/Maintenance: Film/Podcasting/Digital Media
26-0586 Client is a social enterprise NFP that uses documentary film, podcasting, and digital media to amplify the work of underrepresented people and communities. Client is seeking pro bono counsel to solidify foundational governance, protect creative assets, and ensure 501(c)(3) compliance. Client would like a comprehensive review of governance documents, legacy contracts (including IP and contributor agreements), and board policies.
Dispute: Contract Negotiation: Film
26-0579 Client is a filmmaker. Client entered into a contract with a production company to produce a film. After having an attorney review the agreement, Client discovered that the agreement places all financial obligations and much of the potential liability on Client. Client now seeks legal assistance to re-negotiate and potentially cap the investment/funding amount for which Client is responsible for covering.
Dispute: Copyright Assignment: Music
26-0577 Client is a songwriter. Client wrote the songs and lyrics for a musical production and registered those works with the copyright office. Client worked with a collaborator who contributed as a playwright to the script of the musical. This collaborator is now bringing demands from an attorney to assign half of the copyright of the music to this individual or potentially face litigation. Client needs legal assistance drafting a response to this lawyer’s request.
Dispute: Art Recovery: Visual Art
26-0562 Client is an artist. Client had work displayed at an art gallery. Client has been attempting to retrieve the artwork for a number of months from the gallery owner. Client needs legal assistance to retrieve the artistic works and receive payment for the works that have sold.
Dispute: Harassment: Music
26-0559 Client is a musician and music educator. Client practices piano and for a period of time taught piano to students out of Client’s condo. A neighbor complained of the noise and reported Client for teaching out of the home to the condo board. Client responded by reducing practice time and ceasing teaching lesson out of the residence. Despite this, the neighbor’s behavior has escalated to include late night visits to Client’s unit, knocking on the door, and increasingly aggressive emails and texts. Client got an emergency no contact order placed by a judge in mid-July to try and stop the harassment. The condo board has deemed Client’s piano as “ordinary building/living noise”. Client needs legal assistance evaluating her rights as condo-owner and potentially drafting a letter to the neighbor to resolve this dispute.
Trademark Registration: Music
26-0557 Client is a record label LLC. Client seeks legal assistance trademarking the name of the LLC with the USPTO.
Dispute: Employment: Theater
26-0540 Client is an artist and producer. Client worked at a theater venue. While producing a show at this venue, two managers at the venue had previously made discriminatory comments toward protected classes, and on the day, screamed at and berated the Client in front of production staff. Client reported this behavior to the venue owner and was terminated from that venue 1 day later. Client seeks legal assistance evaluating their claims for discrimination and retaliatory behavior.
Dispute: Landlord-Tenant: Visual Arts
26-0536 Client is an arts education NFP. Client currently rents a commercial storefront for classes and workshops. The space is in need of repairs that the landlord is refusing to perform. Client needs legal assistance evaluating and enforcing its rights to have these repairs performed as well as renewing the lease, pursuant the terms of the lease agreement.
Copyright Clearance: Music
26-0530 Client is a musician and recording artist. Client has created a 12 track album that incorporates other musical works. Client seeks legal assistance in evaluating and securing the proper licenses to distribute these works.
Dispute: Copyright Infringement: Music
26-0528 Client is an independent recording artist, songwriter, and performer. Client worked with a label to distribute music. After not receiving any revenue or royalty statements from the label, Client submitted a takedown notice to the label. The label promised they would take the music down. It’s been months and the music remains up online. Client seeks legal counsel to help enforce the copyright protections in these works and potentially recover lost revenue.
NonProfit: Formation/Maintenance: Music
26-0508 Client is a creative entrepreneur and community advocate. Client currently has an online series that brings music to the community. Client seeks advice and assistance in potential establishing a nonprofit entity around this endeavor.
Nonprofit: Formation/Maintenance: Literary
26-0499 Client operates an online magazine that supports women and nonbinary filmmakers, creating a platform for their work. Client previously formed an LLC around these efforts, which was dissolved in 2021. Client now seeks legal assistance in evaluating and ultimately obtaining nonprofit status for this organization, including drafting bylaws, filing articles of incorporation, and filing for 501(c)(3) status.
26-0440 Client is a publishing company. Client discovered that a musician has been using 4 of its songs without permission. Client filed for timely registration in 3 of the 4 works, as well as sent multiple takedown notifications and cease and desist letters. Client is seeking legal representation in bringing a federal copyright lawsuit, seeking statutory damages and attorneys fees.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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: 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.
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.
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: 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.
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.
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.
Dispute: Landlord-Tenant: Photography
25-0995 Client is an LLC that rents a space as a gallery, school, and gathering space for visual journalism. Due to nearby construction and flooding, the gallery space is no longer suitable for any of these purposes. Client’s land-lord has been unresponsive to these issues. Client needs assistance terminating the lease agreement and evaluating recoupment for rent and lost earnings.
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.
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.
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.
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: Landlord-Tenant
25-0844 Client is a product designer. Client was served eviction to move out of apartment, arrived to move out their things. The landlord informed Client that they had thrown away Client’s possessions, including stored IP documentation. Client needs assistance evaluating claims for relief, including retrieving property.
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.
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.
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: 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: 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.
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