In recent legal documents, obtained by CNN on Wednesday, Daryl Hall accuses John Oates of attempting to "secretly sell half of the assets of Whole Oates Enterprises LLP without Hall's consent," which Hall refers to as the "ultimate betrayal of partnership" in their entertainment ventures.
Whole Oates Enterprises LLP holds intellectual property rights, licensing fees, and social media assets related to the 'Entertainment' sector, including Hall & Oates' brands and trademarks. According to Hall, Oates falsely claimed he intended to remain the sole owner of Whole Oates Enterprises LLP.
Hall alleges that Oates' "malicious actions" caused significant turmoil, damage, and struggles in his life, in addition to unnecessary costs and burdens. Oates countered with a statement denying Hall's allegations.
Hall sought a temporary restraining order (TRO) in Nashville's Chancery Court last week, citing a "breach of contract” or "debt" dispute. A judge approved the TRO last Friday, but the case remained sealed until new legal documents were filed this week.
According to CNN, Hall and Oates have a decades-long history as the iconic rock duo Hall & Oates. They first met in the 1960s in Philadelphia and enjoyed chart-topping success between 1976 and 1990 with 29 Top 40 hits, including early-80s hits like "Private Eyes" and "Maneater."
The legal feud currently divides the duo, with no potential for a reunion and John Oates launching a new solo album titled "Reunion."
In this business dispute, Hall's allegations against Oates involve an attempt to unlawfully sell half of Whole Oates Enterprises LLP's assets—a move Hall sees as the "ultimate betrayal of partnership."
Lawsuit Details:
- Attempted Sell-Off: Hall filed a restraining order to halt the sale of his half of Whole Oates Enterprises LLP to Primary Wave. Oates disputed the claim of bad-faith and clandestine moves.
- Legal Dispute: The dispute revolves around financial issues and the sale of their entertainment business partnership. Hall accuses Oates of breaching their contract by moving to sell his share without Hall's approval.
- Creative Partnership: Hall reported a lack of creative collaboration between him and Oates for at least 25 years. They only performed live shows together and did not collaborate on new songs, their legal issues stemming in part from this.
- Oates' Perspective: Oates described the lawsuit as a "very boring business issue" and focused on his solo career, emphasizing his desire to rediscover his identity as an individual artist.
- Impact on Hall & Oates: The legal battle effectively brought an end to the popular duo Hall & Oates. Daryl Hall confirmed no reunion while Oates announced a new solo album, "Reunion."
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