PR84449

NEW YORK, June 18, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

Kasowitz Benson Torres, on behalf of Woodstock 50, LLC, has sued international

advertising and public relations giant Dentsu Group and certain affiliates,

alleging that they are responsible for the destruction of the Woodstock 50th

Anniversary Festival (the "Festival"), which Woodstock 50, LLC was producing

and Dentsu agreed to finance.  The Festival, scheduled to take place in August

2019, was to be one of the iconic musical and cultural events of our era.  

The complaint, filed today in New York state court, alleges that Dentsu induced

its affiliate Amplifi Live to breach its contract with Woodstock 50 to produce

the Festival, and then to seize control of it in order to cancel the event.  

Dentsu proceeded to interfere with Woodstock 50's contracts with performers and

others, to defame Woodstock 50, and to damage its business prospects.  As a

result of Dentsu's egregious conduct, Woodstock 50 seeks to recover the tens of

millions of dollars in damages it suffered, in addition to punitive damages for

the defendants' outrageous misconduct.  

Before Dentsu scuttled it, the Festival was to be a momentous three-day music

event celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the legendary 1969 Woodstock

festival. Dentsu's affiliate Amplifi Live had agreed to provide $49 million in

financing to support the Festival's production.  In the run-up to the event,

Woodstock 50 secured the use of Watkins Glen International raceway's grounds,

and signed up a stellar lineup of talent to perform at the Festival, including

Jay-Z, Miley Cyrus, Halsey, and Janelle Monáe, as well as legacy acts from the

original Woodstock such as Carlos Santana and John Fogerty.  Despite the

incredible talent that had signed on, Dentsu and its affiliates -- apparently

concerned that the Festival might not be as profitable as they had hoped --

sabotaged the Festival, unlawfully withdrew over $18 million of Festival funds,

and falsely claimed that the Festival had been cancelled.  Dentsu then

prevented Woodstock 50 from proceeding with the Festival by wrongfully

attempting to claw back Festival funds paid to talent and other vendors,

convincing those Festival partners to abandon their business arrangements with

the Festival.  In addition, Dentsu, weaponizing its vast media network,

launched a massive disparagement campaign against Woodstock 50, falsely telling

the world that the Festival could not be staged safely and successfully.  As a

result of Dentsu's continued interference, Woodstock 50 was unable to raise

alternative funding and obtain a permit to stage the Festival.

A copy of the complaint is available upon request.

The Kasowitz team representing Woodstock 50 is led by founding partner Marc E.

Kasowitz and includes partners David E. Ross and Albert Shemmy Mishaan, and

associates Nefertiti J. Alexander and Carolina Diaz-Martinez.  

About Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP

Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP is a leading national law firm with a core focus on

commercial litigation, complemented by strong bankruptcy/restructuring and real

estate transactional practices.  Kasowitz is known for its creative, aggressive

litigators and willingness to take on tough cases.  The firm has extensive

trial experience and is always trial-ready, representing both plaintiffs and

defendants in every area of litigation.  Kasowitz is committed to pursuing

aggressive and innovative approaches to its clients' most challenging legal

matters.  Headquartered in New York City, the firm also has offices in Atlanta,

Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, San Francisco, Silicon Valley and

Washington, DC.  For more information, please visit www.kasowitz.com.  

Contact:

Gabriella Schoff

Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP

+1 (585) 350-8512

gschoff@kasowitz.com

SOURCE: Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP