The legal comings and goings between Kelly Clarkson and estranged husband Brandon Blackstock are becoming increasingly tense after the American Idol legal team responded to Blacksock’s denial that he and his father defrauded Clarkson by millions.
Clarkson and Blackstock have been fighting a legal war against each other since October, when Kelly’s ex Father-in-law Narvel Blackstock filed a lawsuit alleging that she still owed them $ 1.5 million in commissions and $ 4 million of her salary for judging The Voice.
Kelly responded with a counter-action, claiming that her contract with the Blackstocks and their company Starstuck Entertainment should be canceled and she should be reimbursed for all previous fees because they were providing ‘illegal services’ under the California Talent Agency Act to work without a license and not act in your client’s “best interest”.
“We maintain our allegations that Starstruck violated the Talent Agencies Act, despite its negative clichés, and we look forward to hearing the case before the Labor Commissioner in August,” shared the Clarkson team in a new statement to Entertainment Tonight.
Maintaining your position: Kelly Clarkson’s camp has doubled with claims that her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock defrauded her by millions during her time as her manager, telling ET that they ‘defend’ their claims while rejecting ‘cliché denials’ of Blackson. Above 2020
Blackstock totally denied Clarkson’s allegations in the November files with the California Labor Commission that surfaced online on Tuesday.
He contested allegations that he and his father cheated the artist by adding exorbitant fees to the accounts of his company, Starstruck Entertainment.
But Brandon’s lawyers, Bryan J. Freedman and Jesse A. Kaplan, argued that they are not subject to the California Talent Agencies Act because they do not do their job at the Golden State.
Kelly’s lawyer, Edwin McPherson, believes the American Idol alumnus is entitled to all the money, as well as other “things of value” that Brandon received while acting as your agent.
The Blackstocks legal representation further alleged any alleged violations that there is a one-year statute of limitations in the Talent Agencies Act, which means that even if Clarkson could prove her charges, her lawyers could argue that she can only claim commissions paid within the year before its deposit in October 2020.
Blackstock is asking that Clarkson’s petition be rejected and that she pay her attorney’s fees.
The legal battle for Clarkson and Blackson started when Father-in-law Narvel Blackstock filed a lawsuit against her last October with allegations that she still owed $ 1.5 million in commissions, in addition to another $ 4 million that she was expected to pay as a result of her role as a judge on The Voice.
His side: Blackstock denies allegations that he defrauded the star while acting as his agent during their relationship. Photographed in 2020 above
Different rule book: Blackstock and father Narvel’s lawyers say they are not subject to the California Talent Agencies Act and that, if they were a statue of one-year limitations, they would reduce how much refund Kelly could recover. Above Narwhal, Kelly and Brandon are seen with older Blackstock ex-wife Reba McEntire
Kelly then countered by asking for the agreement to be canceled, a refund of all previous payments made by Clarkson and a suspension of any additional payments to the company.
‘Based on unlawful acts and conduct of [Starstruck Management and the Blackstocks] … All agreements between the parties must be declared void and unenforceable, no money must be paid by the petitioners to the defendants and all amounts previously paid by the petitioners to the defendants must be evicted from the defendants immediately ‘, says the petition.
Clarkson’s petition states that Starstruck demanded ‘abusive fees and indemnities … for illegal services’, acted’ in conflict of interest with the petitioners’ best interests’ and gave ‘false information’.
The petition also alleges that Starstruck made ‘false representations and / or hiding material information from [Clarkson] on certain matters related to [Starstruck’s] engagement ‘, which was’ a violation of Section 1700.32 of the California Labor Code. ‘
Clarkson also claims that the company was unable to obtain its written approval to act as its agent.
Bryan Freedman, Starstruck’s lawyer, told TMZ about the lawsuit: ‘The labor petition conveniently ignores the fact that Kelly had her own CAA licensed talent agency all the time. Although the Starstruck Management Group provided talent management services on its behalf, it always did when CAA was its registrar. ‘
An eye for an eye: Clarkson and Blackson’s legal battle began when father-in-law Narvel Blackstock filed a lawsuit against her last October with allegations that she still owed $ 1.5 million in commissions, in addition to another $ 4 million that she should pay them as a result of her role as a judge on The Voice
Family ties: Clarkson shares daughter River Rose and son Remington Alexander with ex
“It is unfortunate that Kelly is again trying to avoid paying due and due commissions to Starstruck to try to gain some perceived advantage in her ongoing custody and divorce process.”
The legal battle is just the latest development amid Kelly’s continued divorce from Brandon.
After seven years of marriage and two children together, the couple separated in the summer of 2020.
Kelly married Brandon at Blackberry Farm in Tennessee in 2013 and together they welcomed daughter River Rose, six, and son Remington Alexander, four.
Kelly has since received primary physical custody of her two children.
The judge’s custody decision prompted Blackstock to file additional legal documents on Monday, seeking $ 436,000 a month in Clarkson’s aid payments.
He is asking for $ 301,000 in alimony and $ 135,000 in alimony, according to TMZ.
He also asked his future ex-wife to cover $ 2 million in attorney fees.
Happier times: Clarkson with Brandon, their two children and the children of a previous marriage