Trial Begins Against Supertramp Co-Founder Roger Hodgson

Firm lawyers David Given, Nicholas Carlin, Robert Caroll III, and Kyle O’Malley, on behalf of plaintiffs and former Supertramp members Douglas Thomson, John Helliwell, and Robert Siebenberg, gave opening statements and began presenting their case in chief to the jury against defendant and Supertramp co-founder Roger Hodgson this week. The case stems from a dispute between the three former bandmembers and Hodgson over songwriting royalties. Plaintiffs allege there was an agreement in place in 1977 with Hodgson for them to receive royalties in perpetuity and that Hodgson has breached, and continues to breach, that agreement by withholding years’ worth of royalty payments. Hodgson denies the 1977 agreement was intended to last forever. The case is being tried in the Central District of California before the Honorable Andre Birotte Jr. and is expected to last through next week. Legal news service Law360 is covering the trial and providing daily national coverage.

Click here to read coverage of Day 1.

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