Prince to be witness in cancelled-gig case
Saturday February 20 2010
POPSTAR Prince is listed among the witnesses in a legal action next week over the cancellation of his Croke Park gig in the summer of 2008.
The artist has also supplied a witness statement in the case, which will open before Mr Justice Peter Kelly at the Commercial Court next Tuesday. It is listed to run for four days.
Mr Justice Kelly was told yesterday the case was proceeding and there was no application to give evidence from the US by video link. The judge was not told whether the artist would appear.
MCD Productions brought the action seeking some €1.6m damages over the cancellation of the gig set for June 16, 2008.
The action is against Prince Rogers Nelson and William Morris Endeavour Entertainment LLC, Beverly Hills, California.
William Morris claims it entered into a contract with MCD on February 26, 2008, for Prince to perform at Croke Park on June 16, 2008, for "an artists' guaranteed fee of $3m (€2.2m)".
MCD transferred $1.5m (€1.1m), half of the agreed fee, to an account of Mr Morris, it is pleaded. Mr Morris also admits that around June 6, 2008, MCD was notified by it that Prince wished to cancel the concert.
Mr Morris alleges Prince refused to travel to Dublin and gave "no reason of substance" to it for the cancellation.
He says the decision to cancel was outside the firm's control and it returned $1.5m (€1.1m) to MCD. They deny negligence, breach of duty or misrepresentation.
MCD said it could not bring an insurance claim, had to refund some 55,126 tickets purchased and its total losses exceeded €1.66m.
- Tim Healy
Irish Independent
