Case List
To learn more about any of the matters on our current Case List, contact our Associate Director of Legal Services, Christopher Johnson.
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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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
22-0029 Pro Bono |
Contracts, Rights of Privacy and Publicity, Copyright Protection/Licensing | Film/TV, Visual Art |
Content Clearance: Film 22-0029 Filmmaker is participating in a public arts program during which he will display a film on the facade of a building in the Chicago Loop. The film will feature footage of parades that he shot, archival footage owned by others, and commissioned marching band music that will be recorded and remixed. Filmmaker needs counsel to advise on clearance of copyright and any necessary rights of publicity. |
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22-0472 Pro Bono |
Contracts | Music, Performance Art |
Contract Drafting: Beat & Feature Agreements: Music 22-0472 Musician client creates and licenses beats and records verses for other artists' recordings. Musician needs a beat license for her customers, and a feature agreement for artists that hire her to perform on their recordings. |
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22-0394 Pro Bono |
Business Startup/Corporate, Contracts | Music, Performance Art |
Contract Drafting: Collaboration Agreement: Film 22-0394 Filmmaker is devising an experimental film focused on music, movement, and meditation and needs counsel to draft an agreement memorializing the rights and responsibilities of his collaborators. |
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22-0391 Pro Bono |
Business Startup/Corporate, Contracts, Not for Profit Advice | Performance Art |
Contract Drafting: Participation Agreements: Reenactment 22-0391 Client is organizing a reenactment of a historical journey and needs counsel to draft agreements for the participants. |
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22-0219 Pro Bono |
Business Startup/Corporate | Literature |
Contract Drafting: Partnership Agreement: Literature 22-0219 Author of children's books is planning to enter into a business partnership with another individual. Author will handle the artistic side of things, while the potential partner would work to develop technology and merchandise associated with the books. Author needs counsel to draft an agreement memorializing the arrangement. |
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22-0400 Pro Bono |
Contracts | Music |
Contract Drafting: Performer Agreement & Work for Hire: Film 22-0400 Client is producing a get-out-the-vote video that will feature local ministers and community figures. Client needs counsel to draft a standard agreement to memorialize her arrangement with the community figures, as well as a work for hire agreement for the artists creating the sound recording to be used in the video. |
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22-0383 Pro Bono |
Contracts | Music |
Contract Drafting: Producer Agreement: Music 22-0383 Songwriter has written and registered copyright in a musical composition. She is planning to hire a producer to assist with the recording process and needs counsel to draft a Producer Agreement. |
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22-0109 Pro Bono |
Contracts | Film/TV, Music |
Contract Drafting: Video Release Agreement: Music 22-0109 Indie recording studio provides recording, songwriting, mixing, mastering, music production, and music engineering services. Upon delivery of the work product, they would like to record video of client reactions, and need counsel to draft a video release to ensure that they have the rights necessary to use these reaction videos in marketing and promotion. |
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22-0387 Pro Bono |
Business Startup/Corporate, Contracts | Film/TV |
Contract Review: Option Agreement and Assignment: Film 22-0387 Filmmaker entered into an option agreement and a short-form assignment agreement with a screenwriter for the screenplay for a film the filmmaker is producing. She has not yet paid the full amount stated in the option agreement, and she needs counsel to review the agreements and help her understand the status of her rights in the screenplay. |
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22-0045 Pro Bono |
Contracts | Film/TV |
Contract Review: Producer Agreement: Film 22-0045 Filmmaker has been engaged to perform producing duties by the writer and director of a film. Filmmaker needs counsel to review the agreement. |
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22-0208 Pro Bono |
Contracts | Music |
Contract Review: Recording Agreement: Music 22-0208 Pianist and composer has been offered a recording contract by a Canadian record label. He needs counsel to review the agreement before signing. |
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22-0339 Pro Bono |
Contracts | Music |
Contract Review: Recording Agreement: Music 22-0339 Rapper and vocalist has been offered a recording contract by a local record label. She needs counsel to review the agreement before signing. |
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22-0206 Pro Bono |
Copyright Infringement | Music |
Copyright Infringement: Music 22-0206 Singer-songwriter performed, distributed, and registered copyright in an original pop song in 2017. This year, another artist released a chart-topping song with similar thematic, lyrical, and melodic components. Singer-songwriter needs counsel to help evaluate any potential claim for copyright infringement. |
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21-1337 Pro Bono |
Other, Copyright Protection/Licensing | Literature, Other |
Copyright Registration: Translations 21-0747 Translator needs counsel to assist with copyright registration for two licensed translations of pre-existing works. |
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22-0461 Paying |
Disputes | Music, Visual Art |
Dispute: Accounting: Literature 22-0461 Author published a book with a literary publisher in 2012. A second edition was released in 2019, and the author doesn't believe they are being paid appropriately. Client needs help securing a royalty statement and determining if the publisher is withholding royalty payments. |
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22-0427 Pro Bono |
Disputes | Dance |
Dispute: Breach of Contract: Dance 22-0427 Nonprofit dance company hired a consultant to assist with fundraising efforts. The dance company paid the consultants fee in one lump sum payment, but the consultant never performed the agreed upon services. Dance company needs counsel to help evaluate their claim, and to recover the amounts paid. |
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22-0431 Pro Bono |
Contracts, Disputes | Literature |
Dispute: Breach of Contract: Literature 22-0431 Author is writing a novel that was supposed to be loosely based on the life and persona of a South American model. The Author contracted with the model for the use of his persona and likeness, as well as completing interviews with the author. Model has failed to complete the interviews required by the contract. Author needs counsel to evaluate her rights under the agreement and help her terminate the agreement and recover the amounts paid. |
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22-0362 Pro Bono |
Disputes | Literature, Visual Art |
Dispute: Breach of Contract: Literature 22-0362 Client is a visual artist and author. She has taken classes from a local writing school for many years. In the most recent session, she submitted a late payment, and the school expelled her. Client is seeking the return of the submitted payment. |
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22-0001 Pro Bono |
Landlord-Tenant | Visual Art |
Dispute: Commercial Eviction: Visual Art 22-0001 Visual artist has had a commercial lease on studio space for several years. Prior to the pandemic, he fell behind on rent. The lease eventually expired, but artist continued occupying the space and making attempts to pay off the amounts owed. Now, the landlord has served the artist with eviction paperwork, and the artist needs counsel to evaluate his case and advise as to his options. |
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22-0474 Pro Bono |
Copyright Infringement | Music |
Dispute: Copyright Infringement: Music 22-0474 Client is a songwriter and musician who separated from his band in 2019. Client wrote and registered copyright in 6 musical compositions that were performed by the band. The lead singer subsequently registered copyright in the same songs under different titles. Client wishes to challenge the lead singer's copyright registration and needs counsel to help evaluate a claim for copyright infringement. |
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22-0215 Pro Bono |
Copyright Infringement | Music |
Dispute: Copyright Infringement: Music 22-0215 Client is a rapper who tells stories about the realities of living in Chicago. Client released a song and related music video in 2012. Several times throughout the last few years, another performer has posted music and videos online of a new song that uses the client's lyrics. Client needs counsel to help evaluate a claim for copyright infringement. |
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21-1342 Pro Bono |
Copyright Infringement | Visual Art |
Dispute: Copyright Infringement: Photography 21-1342 Photographer worked with a religious nonprofit organization for several years, taking photographs, producing calendars from those photographs, etc. There was never a contract between photographer and the nonprofit, and the photographs were not work for hire. Photographer's relationship with the nonprofit has since deteriorated, but they still have access to her photographs and continue to create unlicensed derivative works from her work. Photographer needs counsel to ensure she is properly compensated for the continued use of her photographs. |
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22-0483 Pro Bono |
Copyright Infringement, Copyright Protection/Licensing | Visual Art |
Dispute: Copyright Infringement: Visual Arts 22-0483 Photographer created an image that was later published in an online publication. A local social club pulled the image from the online publication without permission and used it as part of their marketing materials for an event. Photographer needs counsel to evaluate her claim for copyright infringement. |
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22-0196 Paying |
Other, Disputes | Music |
Dispute: Defamation: Music 22-0196 DJ hired a UK-based PR firm to promote her music. PR firm has failed to meet deliverables and DJ terminated the contract. PR firm then took down articles DJ previously paid for and published allegedly defamatory statements about the DJ. DJ needs counsel to issue a demand letter requesting the PR firm to rescind allegedly defamatory statements and re-publish agreed upon articles. If PR firm refuses, DJ needs counsel to evaluate a claim for defamation. |
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22-0156 Pro Bono |
Other | Film/TV |
Dispute: Dissolution of LLC: Film 22-0156 Filmmaker client is a member of a film production LLC that was created to produce a film project about football. Client spent a great deal of his own money on the project and believes that he has not been properly compensated per the operating agreement, and wishes to dissolve the LLC and be made whole. Client needs counsel to review the relevant documents and evaluate his rights, and if appropriate, assist with his exit from, or the dissolution of, the LLC. |
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22-0330 Pro Bono |
Employment, Other | Visual Art |
Dispute: Employment Discrimination: Visual Art 22-0330 Visual artist was recently fired from a teaching position with a local art school. He believes he has a claim for race-based employment discrimination and needs counsel to evaluate his claim. |
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22-0467 Pro Bono |
Employment, Not for Profit Advice | Visual Art |
Dispute: Employment: Unemployment Contributions 22-0467 Nonprofit that provides social and emotional learning programming for schools was recently informed by the IDES that they are now required to contribute to the unemployment fund. Nonprofit filed an appeal and needs counsel to evaluate their current status and obligations, and provide advice going forward. |
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21-1263 Paying |
Contracts, Disputes | Other, Visual Art |
Dispute: Non-payment for Services: Lighting Design 21-1263 Lighting designer contracted with a local private high school to provide services, and school refuses to pay the remaining balance. Designer needs counsel to evaluate the claim. If recommended, they will need assistance with recovery though litigation. |
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21-1330 Paying |
Other | Visual Art |
Dispute: Non-payment for Services: Visual Art 21-1330 Graphic designer and visual artist was hired to manage/design real estate company's social media presence. Company paid invoices for the first seven months of work, but has failed to respond to invoices covering the last three months of work. Client needs help recovering amounts owed. |
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22-0073 Pro Bono |
Contracts, Disputes | Visual Art |
Dispute: Non-payment for Services: Visual Art 22-0073 Graphic designer was hired to perform digital graphic design and web development services for a wellness company. Company agreed to a rate increase, but after client submitted the first invoice using the new rate, the company refused to pay. Client needs help recovering amounts owed. |
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21-0857 Contingent Fee (PB Eligible) |
Other, Disputes | Film/TV, Music |
Dispute: Non-payment of Royalties: Music 21-0857 Co-author of a successful house music song needs help evaluating her right to royalties. In addition, if recommended, she will need assistance with recovery though litigation. The song was originally published in the late 1980's and is still being sampled, remixed, and used in various mediums including television and video games. Prior LCA counsel has exhausted options short of litigation. Discovery may reveal that the Client has a claim for fraud. |
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22-0164 Pro Bono |
Landlord-Tenant | Music |
Dispute: Repairs to Commercial Space: Music 22-0164 NFP Music School's space experienced an HVAC malfunction. NFP notified management company, which arranged for repairs without discussing with NFP, but are now demanding that NFP cover the cost of repairs. NFP needs counsel to evaluate their rights to dispute the invoice for the repairs. |
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22-0098 Pro Bono |
Other | Literature |
Dispute: Tax: Comics 22-0098 Client is a renown comic book artist and author. Her publisher has classified her as an employee, and as a result, there is some confusion as to her filing status with the IRS. Client has not paid taxes in several years. Client needs counsel to evaluate her rights and liabilities. |
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22-0346 Pro Bono |
Estates | Literature, Visual Art |
Estate Planning: Literature & Visual Art 22-0346 Prolific author and painter focused on African-American Spirituality needs assistance with estate and legacy planning for her body of work. |
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21-1168 Pro Bono |
Visa and Immigration, Not for Profit Advice | Dance |
Immigration: Dance Company 21-1168 Established Chicago dance company is starting a year long training program and has received inquiries of participation from international students. Company wants to accept these students and believes they need to obtain status as an SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) approved school. Company needs counsel to advise and assist them in this process. |
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22-0332 Pro Bono |
Not for Profit Advice | Dance |
NFP: Bylaws: Dance 22-0332 40-year old NFP dance company emphasizing Mexican folkdance needs counsel to review NFP governance documents in advance of a transfer of leadership. |
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22-0298 Pro Bono |
Other | Music |
NFP: Dissolution: Music 22-0298 NFP music ensemble is planning to wind down and dissolve the entity and needs advice on the dissolution process and options for distribution of the entity's assets. |
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21-0870 Pro Bono |
Not for Profit Advice | Film/TV |
NFP: Fundraising Regulations 21-0870 Illinois NFP needs help evaluating whether they are permitted or need special licensing to use a Facebook spinning wheel game to facilitate fundraising. |
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