$10M suit over Madonna hit
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
The Spirit One Music group is accusing one of Madonna's longtime co-writers, John 'Jellybean' Benitez, of keeping $10 million worth of royalties for Madonna's 1983 hit 'Holiday' away from them.
According to a suit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Benitez and Spirit were to split royalties for the song, still popular after nearly 30 years, and Benitez was in charge of distributing the royalties between the two.
But the suit claims Benitez 'repeatedly and unrepentantly misstated and underreported revenues due to its joint owner, Spirit,' and 'repeatedly, systematically and intentionally made delinquent and tardy payments' to Spirit.
The suit says Benitez has 'concocted flimsy, bad-faith excuses for its inaccuracy.' Spirit wants $10 million in allegedly unpaid royalties, said Spirit's lawyer, Wallace Collins. Reps for Benitez did not respond to requests for comment.
According to a suit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Benitez and Spirit were to split royalties for the song, still popular after nearly 30 years, and Benitez was in charge of distributing the royalties between the two.
But the suit claims Benitez 'repeatedly and unrepentantly misstated and underreported revenues due to its joint owner, Spirit,' and 'repeatedly, systematically and intentionally made delinquent and tardy payments' to Spirit.
The suit says Benitez has 'concocted flimsy, bad-faith excuses for its inaccuracy.' Spirit wants $10 million in allegedly unpaid royalties, said Spirit's lawyer, Wallace Collins. Reps for Benitez did not respond to requests for comment.
From NYPOST.com
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