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 ou Associate Director of Legal Services, Christopher Johnson, at (312) 837-3521 or cjohnson@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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
22-0527 Pro Bono |
Copyright Infringement | Other |
Dispute: Copyright Infringement: Audio Documentary 22-0527 Documentarian produced an audio documentary about UFOs in the 70s. Someone has made the documentary available online without compensating the rightsholders. Documentarian needs counsel to help evaluate a claim for copyright infringement. |
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22-1096 Pro Bono |
Business Startup/Corporate, Copyright Protection/Licensing | Comedy, Music, Theater |
Start-up: Comedy/Theatre 22-1096 Theatrical producer is developing a comedic variety show that would involve the onstage use of marijuana. Producer needs start-up advice, assistance with LLC formation, and counsel on the legal issues associated with the onstage use of marijuana. |
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22-1125 Pro Bono |
Employment, Disputes | Other, Theater |
Dispute: Employment: Theatre 22-1125 Stage technician recently quit his job due to a number of workplace issues, including alleged harassment on the basis of religion. He needs counsel to help evaluate a claim for constructive discharge. |
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22-1132 Paying |
Contracts, Copyright Protection/Licensing | Performance Art, Visual Art |
Contract Review: Exhibition Agreement: Visual Art Installation 22-1132 Visual artist has been hired to adapt their work for a digitally projected exhibition at a local museum. The parties have begun drafting an agreement. Visual artist needs counsel to review the agreement and assist with any necessary revisions. |
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22-1135 Pro Bono |
Personal Injury/Damage to Property | Film/TV |
Dispute: Loss of Property: Video Services 22-1135 Videographer was working a job for a client when his equipment was stolen from the area in which he was directed to store it. Videographer's client is unwilling to reimburse him for the loss. Videographer needs counsel to help evaluate a claim for reimbursement. |
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23-0001 Pro Bono |
Business Startup/Corporate, Disputes | Music, Visual Art |
Dispute: State Licensure: Visual Art/Music 23-0001 Small nonprofit intending to provide support and arts programming for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities was recently denied licensure from the Illinois Department of Human Services. They need counsel to assist with an appeal of the denial. |
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23-0025 Pro Bono |
Contracts, Disputes | Dance |
Dispute: Breach of Contract Defense: Dance 23-0025 Nonprofit dance school has been offering classes using a space owned by another dance company since early 2021. There is no formal contract for use of the space. The two organizations recently realized that no invoices for use of the space had been sent or paid since the first month of use. The dance company that owns the space has demanded payment for the previous months of use. Nonprofit dance school needs counsel to assist with settlement negotiations. |
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23-0027 Pro Bono |
Business Startup/Corporate, Not for Profit Advice | Film/TV |
Start-up: Film 23-0027 Documentary filmmaker has been financing a film through a related nonprofit and needs counsel to assist with entity structure for a new production company and advice regarding ownership of the film. |
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23-0029 Pro Bono |
Disputes | Literature |
Dispute: Accounting: Literature 23-0029 Author published a book with a large DIY publisher but has not received any royalties. Client needs help securing a royalty statement and determining if the publisher is withholding royalty payments. |
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23-0035 Pro Bono |
Business Startup/Corporate | Dance, Music, Performance Art |
Start-up: Performance Art 23-0035 Arts entrepreneur provides project management services for artists, dancers, and musicians and needs general start-up advice and help with entity formation. |
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23-0045 Pro Bono |
Disputes | Acting/Modeling |
Dispute: Social Media Access: Theater 23-0045 Actor maintains a personal social media page, as well as several commercial pages. His personal page was recently shut down, effectively denying him access to his commercial pages. Actor needs help regaining access to his accounts. |
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23-0099 Pro Bono |
Disputes | Dance, Performance Art |
Dispute: Post-Judgement Proceedings: Attorneys' Fees 23-0099 Choreographer and former plaintiff in unsuccessful civil rights arbitration against former employer needs advice in defending against order to pay award of costs assessed by arbitrator. |
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23-0105 Pro Bono |
Disputes | Music, Visual Art |
Dispute: Collection: Photography 23-0105 Photographer regularly took photographs for a band over a period of several years without any formal agreement or significant compensation. Photographer recently cut ties with the band and needs counsel to evaluate a claim for royalties/compensation for the myriad and continued use of his photographs. |
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23-0107 Pro Bono |
Visa and Immigration | Film/TV, Visual Art |
Immigration: Artist Visa: Visual Arts 23-0107 Multidisciplinary artist from Pakistan recently completed a graduate program at a Chicago university. He is currently in the U.S. on a student visa (F-1) and is currently self-employed on an OPT. Artist needs counsel to advise on the process of obtaining an artist visa (O-1). |
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23-0114 Pro Bono |
Copyright Infringement, Disputes | Literature |
Dispute: Accounting: Literature 23-0114 Writer client wrote a novel involving themes of alternative history, magic, and colonialism with a co-author. The co-author recently entered into an arrangement with a publisher without consulting the client. Client needs counsel to help obtain an accounting of books sold and, if appropriate, assistance recovering amounts owed. |
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23-0129 Pro Bono |
Disputes | Visual Art |
Dispute: Consignment of Art: Visual Arts 23-0129 Visual artist created several paintings that were included in an exhibition at a New York gallery without a formal contract. In the time since the exhibition, and at the request of the gallery owner, the artist sold a few of the paintings. However, the gallery owner has stopped communicating with the artist and failed to ship the paintings to the purchasers or return the unsold paintings to the artist. Artist needs counsel to evaluate his options for legal recourse and assist with recovery of the paintings. |
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23-0142 Pro Bono |
Disputes | Design/Graphic Design, Other, Visual Art |
Dispute: Collection: Visual Art 23-0142 Visual artist was hired by a creative agency to create an animation project. Upon completion, the creative agency refused to pay the agreed upon costs. Client needs help recovering amounts owed. |
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23-0149 Pro Bono |
Contracts | Literature, Visual Art |
Contract Review: Art Exhibit 23-049 NFP client has been invited to curate an exhibit featuring photographs of members and activities of a prominent African American organization for display at a local college and needs counsel to review the contract. |
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23-0151 Pro Bono |
Copyright Infringement, Trademark Infringement | Other |
Trademark/Copyright Infringement: Fashion 23-0151 Small business that manufactures and sells cosplay apparel has recently discovered an online retailer that is using their registered trademark and marketing photography to sell similar products. They need counsel to help evaluate a claim for copyright and trademark infringement. |
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23-0164 Pro Bono |
Not for Profit Advice | Literature, Visual Art |
Nonprofit: Reinstate Tax-Exempt Status: Visual Art 23-0164 Nonprofit visual arts organization focused on themes of immigration was recently notified that the IRS has revoked their 501(c)3 status due to failure to file 990s. The organization needs counsel to assist with the reinstatement of their tax-exempt status. |
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23-0183 Pro Bono |
Copyright Infringement | Dance |
Dispute: Copyright Infringement Defense: Music 23-0183 Local nonprofit dance organization is currently being sued by a musician in the Southern District of New York for copyright infringement over the unauthorized use of a song in a YouTube video. Nonprofit has not yet been served. Nonprofit needs counsel to help defend the suit. |
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23-0184 Pro Bono |
Employment | Other, Visual Art |
Dispute: Allegations of Domestic Violence: Visual Art 23-0184 Nonprofit organization that provides donated supplies and equipment to arts organizations and schools recently hired two independent contractors. They later discovered that the two independent contractors are in a relationship. One independent contractor is no longer coming in due to an alleged instance of domestic violence which they claim was perpetrated by the other independent contractor. The nonprofit organization needs counsel to evaluate their options and obligations when addressing this situation. |
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23-0187 Pro Bono |
Personal Injury/Damage to Property | Film/TV |
Dispute: Damage to Property: Visual Art 23-0187 Filmmaker hired an art studio/gallery to digitally reproduce a painting. Studio/gallery allegedly destroyed the painting. Previous LCA counsel has determined that filmmaker has a viable claim for conversion, but this analysis is based on assumptions that cannot be confirmed without proceeding through discovery. Filmmaker needs counsel to help pursue this claim via litigation. |
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23-0190 Pro Bono |
Contracts | Music |
Contract Review: Recording Agreement: Music 23-0190 Recording artist signed a recording contract in 2016. Artist recorded tracks for one album in the label's studio, but the album was never released. Artist has continued to record music, but the label has not been involved in years. Artist needs counsel to help evaluate his rights in his work over the term of the recording agreement. |
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23-0211 Pro Bono |
Other | Theater |
Dissolution: Nonprofit: Theatre 23-0211 Nonprofit theatre company has begun the process of winding down and dissolving the entity and needs advice on the dissolution process and options for resolution of the organization's debts through bankruptcy or other processes. |
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