Kingston Trio Files Major Lawsuit Against Greek Theatre, City of Los Angeles Over Contract Breaches
TL;DR
The Kingston Trio lawsuit reveals how artists can leverage RICO Act violations and age discrimination claims to challenge venue contracts and secure financial compensation for damages.
The lawsuit details systematic contract breaches including exclusive ticketing arrangements, failure to deliver concert recordings, and discriminatory purchasing systems that violated multiple state and federal laws.
This legal action seeks to protect elderly concertgoers from discriminatory ticketing practices and ensure fair access to cultural events for all community members regardless of age.
The Kingston Trio's lawsuit uncovers a pattern of venue mismanagement dating back to 1992, connecting ticketing discrimination against seniors to broader political corruption in Los Angeles.
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The Kingston Trio, one of America's most renowned folk and pop music groups, has initiated legal action against Los Angeles's Greek Theatre, the City of Los Angeles, Ticketmaster, and Live Nation for breach of contract. The lawsuit details multiple contract violations by Greek Theatre Management that resulted in millions of dollars in damages to the group's August 2024 concerts.
The legal complaint alleges that misconduct by the Greek Theatre, sanctioned by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and her appointees to the Commission on Recreation and Parks, violates the Federal RICO Act. This violation stems from awarding Ticketmaster exclusive ticketing rights to the Greek Theatre despite city mandates prohibiting such exclusive arrangements. The lawsuit claims this represents a pattern of improper contracting practices that have plagued the venue since 1992.
A significant aspect of the case involves allegations that Ticketmaster's ordering techniques discriminated against elderly concertgoers. The non-user-friendly systems requiring apps and multiple portals created frustrating barriers for senior citizens attempting to purchase tickets. This misconduct allegedly violates the California Unruh Act, which prohibits discrimination against the elderly when accessing public facilities. The Greek Theatre management was reportedly aware in writing that elderly patrons constitute 85% of The Kingston Trio's audience.
The Greek Theatre Management also stands accused of negligent fulfillment of a concert production agreement. Management purportedly breached the contract by failing to film and deliver professional video and audio recordings, specifically by neglecting to record one full day of the two-day concert engagement. This negligence resulted in the cancellation of a planned two-hour documentary film and double live album, along with future large-venue concert opportunities for the group.
The lawsuit positions this case within a broader context of ongoing legal challenges against Ticketmaster. The Federal Trade Commission and seven states are currently suing Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, for allegedly coordinating with ticket resellers and allowing them to harvest millions of dollars' worth of tickets for resale at significant markups. The FTC has accused the companies of misleading artists and consumers through bait-and-switch pricing and false claims about purchase limits.
The legal action suggests these breaches and fraudulent acts reflect a RICO conspiracy reaching the Mayor's office. The complaint connects this case to other controversies involving the current administration, including the mishandling of the Palisades Fire, a federal lawsuit concerning missing millions of dollars for homeless services, and a class action ensuring handicapped access to city recreation facilities. The plaintiff is demanding a trial by jury on all issues raised in the complaint available at https://www.tropeandtropelawgroup.com/kingstontrio-complaint.
Curated from Newsworthy.ai
