Chance The Rapper heading to $3 million trial with former manager
Chance The Rapper is set to go to court after his former manager sued him for $3 million over unpaid commissions. On April 26th, a judge denied Chance’s request to dismiss the 2020 lawsuit from Pat Corcoran.
Corcoran claimed there was a verbal agreement that Chance (real name Chancelor Bennett) would pay him commission during their working relationship and for three years after termination. Chance said the alleged verbal agreement violated the statute of frauds and should be dismissed.
However, the judge rejected Chance’s motion in Illinois last week, meaning the long-running saga will continue to trial.
In a statement, Chance’s legal team told Music Business Worldwide, “We respectfully believe that the Court incorrectly denied summary judgment, as there is no legal or factual basis for Mr Corcoran or his entity to obtain additional compensation from Mr Bennett or his entities for a full three years after Mr Corcoran was fired.”
They added, “Mr Bennett looks forward to further demonstrating at trial that this claim by his disgruntled former manager is entirely meritless.”
Chance and Corcoran stopped working together in April 2020 after nearly eight years, prompting a lawsuit later that year. Corcoran sued three companies owned by Chance, alleging a breach of a verbal contract for Corcoran’s management services.
Pat The Manager LLC sought damages for alleged unpaid commissions earned before his contract was terminated and commissions owed on profits generated by Chance’s companies for three years after termination.
Chance countersued Corcoran, claiming he “sabotaged” a deal he had in place to become a face of UnitedMasters.
“Mr Corcoran has been paid in full under his management services contract with Mr Bennett,” Chance’s attorneys told the Chicago Tribune. “Yet he chose to file a groundless and insulting lawsuit that ignores his own improper self-dealing and incompetence.”