Ray Charles Foundation v. Reatha Butler, Robyn Moffett, David Robinson, Raenee Robinson, Ray Charles Robinson Jr., Robert F Robinson and Sheila Robinson
Published: Feb. 9, 2013 | Result Date: Jan. 28, 2013 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: 2:2012-cv-02725 Bench Decision – Dismissal
Court
USDC Central
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
David S. Harris
(North Bay Law Group)
Marc Toberoff
(Toberoff & Associates PC)
Keith G. Adams
(Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney)
Facts
In 2010, children of the legendary Ray Charles filed termination notices on their father's songs. The Ray Charles Foundation, which collected royalty checks from Charles' songs, sued them in return. Before Ray Charles' death, each of his 12 children accepted a $500,000 trust in exchange for promising not to "make a claim against his estate." The children, however, argued that the foundation lacked standing because Charles' deals were with Warner/Chappell Music Inc., which as not contested the termination notices. The composition rights to Charles' hits, including "I Got a Woman," What'd I Say" and "A Fool for You" will revert back to the heirs by 2015.
Result
U.S. District Judge Audrey B. Collins dismissed the lawsuit for lack of standing.
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