A federal judge recommended dismissal of two claims by Vicky Cornell against the remaining members of Soundgarden, her late husband Chris Cornell‘s former band.
Vicky had alleged that Soundgarden purposefully withheld “hundreds of thousands of dollars” owed to her and her two children. She also claimed that the band’s business manager, Rit Venerus, had breached his fiduciary duty to Vicky.
According to U.S. District Judge Michelle Peterson, there is no evidence that the band is withholding royalties “hundreds of thousands of dollars” of Chris Cornell’s royalties from her or that the band’s manager breached his duty to look after her best interests.
Peterson’s report will now be sent to the case’s presiding judge, Robert Lasnik, who will make the final decision.
Meanwhile, Vicky’s lawyer, Marty Singer, says that she plans to “vehemently object” to the judge’s recommendation.
“The magistrate’s recommendation has zero impact on the significant claims against Soundgarden and its band members, who have sought to trample on Chris Cornell’s rights by unlawfully asserting ownership over his vocal recordings and by depriving his wife and children of millions of dollars that the band members want to keep for themselves,” Singer says.
Vicky has been waging a legal battle with the remaining Soundgarden members after her husband’s sudden death on May 18, 2017 at the age of 52. Chris had left all of his property, including his intellectual and personal property rights, to Vicky and their two minor children.
In December 2019, Vicky had filed a lawsuit over recordings made by Chris before his death in 2017. Both Vicky and Soundgarden have claimed rightful ownership of the recordings.
In February 2021, Vicky filed a separate lawsuit over a buyout offer that Soundgarden allegedly made to her, which she called “villainously low.”
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