Kelly Clarkson’s Legal Battle with Ex-Husband and Former Manager Heats Up
Kelly Clarkson, the three-time Grammy Award winner, is in the midst of a bitter legal battle with her ex-husband and former manager, Brandon Blackstock, which has resulted in multiple lawsuits and appeals. The latest development involves Clarkson filing a cross-complaint against Blackstock and his father Narvel Blackstock’s company, Starstruck Entertainment seeking the return of all the commissions she paid to him between October 2019 and October 2020.
The Background Story
Clarkson joined Starstruck in July 2007 and left the company in 2020. Their original agreement stipulated she pay 15% of her earnings to the company. In November, the 41-year-old talk show host won a legal victory after a California labor commissioner ruled Blackstock was operating as her manager at Starstruck without a talent license and “unlawfully” procured four business deals on her behalf, including deals that should have been handled by her agency, Creative Artists Agency, instead. He was ordered to repay her $2.6 million for commissions he received.
Blackstock and Starstruck appealed the California labor commissioner’s decision that same month and filed for an appeal in Los Angeles Superior Court requesting a trial “de novo,” asking that the case be heard by a judge who could decide if the court was in agreement with the decision made by the California labor commissioner.
Clarkson’s Cross-Complaint
On Monday, Clarkson filed a cross-complaint seeking the return of all the commissions she paid to him between October 2019 and October 2020 for alleged violations of the Talent Agencies Act. Clarkson’s complaint claims Starstruck was operating as an “unlicensed” talent agency in the state of California when Clarkson first entered into an “oral agreement” with the company to manage her business deals in 2007.
The complaint requests that the court decide the original oral agreement and all agreements between the parties dating back to 2007 are “void and unenforceable” due to the alleged “wrongful acts and conduct of Starstruck.” In addition, the complaint asks for a “full and complete accounting from Starstruck of all monies received by Starstruck, directly or indirectly, in connection with any and all contracts, employment, or engagements pertaining in any way to the personal services” of Clarkson.
The complaint requested a court order requiring Starstruck to “disgorge and return any and all commissions, fees, profits, advances, producing fees, or other monies” that Clarkson paid to the company.
In his statement to Rolling Stone, Blackstock’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, said, “It is morally, ethically and legally wrong to attempt to get monies back from your ex-husband who not only helped her as her manager but who used those earnings on their children and Kelly and Brandon’s lifestyle during the marriage.”
The Dispute
The dispute between Clarkson and Blackstock turned acrimonious after their divorce in March 2022. During the two-year dispute over ownership of the Montana ranch they once shared, Clarkson lost a bid to evict Blackstock from the ranch after he refused to vacate the property.
The dispute was settled in January 2022 when a judge ordered that Clarkson give Blackstock a 5.12% stake in the ranch, which equaled $908,800 of its total $17,750,000 value. In September 2020, Starstruck sued Clarkson for $1.4 million in unpaid commissions, claiming that she had not paid the full amount owed for commissions that year for her earnings from “The Voice” and “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”
Clarkson and Blackstock have two children together; daughter River Rose, 9, and son Remington “Remy” Alexander, 7. The former couple battled for two years over custody of their children with a judge ultimately ruling that Clarkson pay Blackstock almost $200,000 a month in both spousal and child support.
Conclusion
Clarkson’s legal battle with her ex-husband and former manager has been a long-drawn-out process that has brought multiple allegations and lawsuits to light. As a legal editor, it is interesting to note the complexities of the laws governing the talent industry and the intricacies of oral agreements. The case underscores the importance of adhering to state regulations and seeking the counsel of legal experts when drafting binding agreements.
As a celebrity and someone in the public eye, Clarkson’s case has been particularly intense, and it is essential to highlight the importance of legal representation and knowledge. As cases like these continue to dominate the media, it is vital to understand the legal intricacies and nuances involved. In conclusion, this case illustrates the importance of seeking legal counsel before entering into any complex financial arrangements potentially to avoid such suiting scenarios
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Originally Post From https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/kelly-clarkson-drops-financial-hammer-080026268.html
