Metal Anarchy

Limp Bizkit have refiled a number of claims in their lawsuit against Universal Music Group. This news comes after the complaint was recently allowed to move forward.

Frontman Fred Durst previously said the label owed the band over $200 million in unpaid royalties. He also accused them of using a “systemic” and “fraudulent” policy that was “deliberately designed” to hide royalties from artists.

Durst also claimed Limp Bizkit “never received any royalties from UMG” despite their success and millions of record sales. This extends to their ongoing resurgence in popularity.

Durst’s representatives eventually contacted UMG and discovered that Limp Bizkit had $1 million in royalties, but the label “failed to alert” them. This raised more red flags about “UMG’s accounting and payment practices.” Upon further investigation, they also found out that “UMG failed to issue any royalty statements for a number of accounting periods.”

For their part, UMG claimed the band were paid $43 million in recoupable advances, which is why it took so long to see money coming into their accounts. The label have since released $1.03 million to the band and $2.3 million to Durst’s Flawless Records, but the group still believed more money was owed. Despite this, Judge Percy Anderson initially denied the request to have their contract voided. He said the following at the time of that ruling:

“The Court therefore concludes that Plaintiffs have not plausibly alleged the type of “substantial” or “total failure” in the performance of the contracts that could support rescission of the parties’ agreements.”

Since the copyright infringement and declaratory relief claims were tied to the rescission claim, they were struck down as well. However, a recent ruling reversed the decision and allowed the copyright infringement claims to move forward.

As such, Durst has now refiled several claims from the original lawsuit. The amended complaint was filed in the Superior Court of the state of California. Notably, Limp Bizkit and Flawless Records were both named as plaintiffs.

The new lawsuit continues to accuse UMG of shady business practices and lack of payments for the band’s music and Durst‘s work with Flawless Records.

Durst also took issue with the accounting conducted as part of a payment arrangement with Flip Records and more. This includes compensation for bands like Staind, etc., who he helped sign. On top of that, he also claimed he was never paid for directing 13 Limp Bizkit videos.

Other accusations include breach of contract, breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing, breach of fiduciary duty, fraudulent concealment, intentional misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, promissory fraud, and violation of the California Business and Professions Code. Durst is currently seeking rescission of deals with Flip, Flawless, etc. The band also want access to accounting associated with their music and Flawless Records.

[via The PRP]