NEW YORK – March 11, 2025 – DiCello Levitt and Ben Crump have filed a lawsuit on behalf of George Clinton, the legendary Grammy Award-winning artist, against Armen Boladian and several music companies, including Bridgeport Music, Inc., Westbound Records, Inc., Nine Records, Inc., Southfield Music, Inc., and Eastbound Records, Inc. The complaint details multiple allegations against the defendants, including fraud, copyright infringement, and breach of fiduciary duty.
The lawsuit claims that Boladian and his associated companies defrauded Clinton and other artists by fraudulently acquiring rights to Clinton’s music catalog without his knowledge or consent and denying him royalties. Clinton says Boladian added fictious songwriters to dilute his royalties and withheld tens of millions of dollars in payments owed to him. Clinton seeks to terminate the fraudulent grants, regain control over his catalog, and receive compensatory and punitive damages.
“George Clinton’s contributions to music, particularly in the genres of funk and hip-hop, are immeasurable, and we aim to protect the legacy he has built and ensure his work is not only protected, but fairly compensated,” said DiCello Levitt Partner Diandra “Fu” Debrosse. “This lawsuit is a crucial step in protecting artists’ rights and holding those who exploit them accountable. It highlights the importance of transparency and fair compensation, ensuring that artists receive the recognition and financial rewards they rightfully deserve.”
“I’m fighting for my life’s work and to ensure future generations of artists are treated fairly,” Clinton said. “When you’re young and just starting out in the music industry, it’s easy for others to take advantage of you. My eyes are wide open now, and I look forward to shining a light on the truth and exploitation of musicians.”
The complaint also includes allegations of conversion and civil theft, fraud and constructive fraud, unjust enrichment, breach of fiduciary duty, and negligence. Clinton is seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent further harm and an accounting of royalties and other payments.
George Clinton is a pioneering figure in American music, renowned for his innovative work with the Parliament-Funkadelic collective. He is celebrated for developing a unique and eclectic form of funk music during the 1970s, characterized by its blend of Afrofuturism, psychedelia, and surreal humor. In 1997, Clinton was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2019 he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
About DiCello Levitt
At DiCello Levitt, we’re dedicated to achieving justice for our clients through class action, environmental, mass tort, securities, financial services, antitrust, business-to-business, public client, whistleblower, personal injury, and civil and human rights litigation. Our lawyers are highly respected for their ability to litigate and win cases—whether by trial, settlement, or otherwise—for people who have suffered harm, global corporations that have sustained significant economic losses, and public clients seeking to protect their citizens’ rights and interests. Every day, we put our reputations—and our capital—on the line for our clients.
DiCello Levitt has achieved top recognition as Plaintiffs Firm of the Year and Trial Innovation Firm of the Year by the National Law Journal, in addition to its top-tier Chambers and Benchmark ratings. For more information about the firm, including recent trial victories and case resolutions, please visit www.dicellolevitt.com.
About Ben Crump Law
Through his work, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more information, visit bencrump.com.
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