The Killers Are Suing Their Former Manager

The Killers has filed a countersuit against their former manager Braden Merrick, claiming he lost them millions of dollars. It’s almost like a payback, because in 2006, Merrick filed a case against the Las Vegas-based band and their current manager. At that time, Merrick accusing the band had sacked him illegally and owed him royalties. He sued the band who were known for their hits Mr. Brightside for at least $16 million.

While inside the band’s suit that was filed last Friday in U.S. District Court in Vegas, they stated, “Merrick was an incompetent manager who abandoned his clients…at a critical juncture of their careers.” An attorney for the Sam’s Town rockers, Bert Deixler, also noted in the suit that California’s state Labor Commission found in December that Merrick had “impermissibly engaged in unlawful procurement” while under contract to the band.

Merrick was fired in May 2005 although he had a contract with the band until 2007. Actually, before Merrick launched his legal action, the two parties had been negotiating a settlement, but didn’t succeed. The Killers then responded by filing a petition in California, seeking to end their contract with Merrick and get money back from him. They claimed their ex-manager had broken labour laws by finding work for them without having a talent agent licence.

From Merrick’s camp, his lawyer Howard King called the attempt to end the contract a “scheme” to give the band a “$10,000,000 windfall”, as he explained, “Once Merrick delivered fame and fortune to the band, he obviously became a financial liability.” According to Billboard, the group are claiming “multi-million-dollar damages in missed concerts and lost touring revenues, and via the bungling of merchandising and promotional opportunities”.

Both cases are now awaiting a court ruling. It looks like there will be a hard fight. Who will win?

[ via BBC ]

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