 Kesha |
The question of whether documents relating to the PR strategy of singer/rapper Kesha are entitled to protection under attorney-client privilege has become part of the defamation case that her former manager, Lukasz "Dr. Luke"Gottwalt, has filed in Manhattan Supreme Court.
Gottwalt’s defamation suit is the latest step in a legal tussle that extends back to October 2014 when Kesha filed suit against him, “claiming sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, gender violence, civil harassment, unfair business, and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.”
Kesha’s communications with entertainment PR firm Sunshine Sachs are at the center of controversy. Her lawyers at O’Melveny contend that Sunshine Sachs "is an arm of Kesha's legal team no different than a document vendor or economic consultant.”
Gottwalt’s attorneys at Mitchell Silberberg say that Kesha “orchestrated a press strategy and public campaign to brand Gottwald a rapist (falsely) in order to coerce him to 'settle.'” They also note that “documents to or from the PR Agents are not privileged as they are obviously intended to facilitate the development of a media strategy.”
While New York Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich has ruled that some documents must be produced by Sunshine Sachs, the singer’s attorneys are still withholding others.
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Longacre Square Partners has formalized its litigation & complex disputes practice under COO Rebecca Kral.
Vision Americas International has filed a $1.3M contract to provide communications and PA support to Vinson & Elkins to backstop its legal work on behalf of the ad hoc board of Petroleos de Venezuela, the US recognized representative of the state-owned energy giant.
FGS Global handles Albertsons Co. as it sues former merger partner Kroger for failing to fight for approval of the deal after it was blocked by a federal judge.
Michael Frishberg, who was global COO at Kroll financial and risk advisory, has signed on as a senior advisor at C Street Advisory Group.
