The 'American Idol' winner has emerged victorious in several rulings at a court hearing concerning commissions allegedly paid to her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.
- May 9, 2024
AceShowbiz - At a court hearing on Wednesday, May 8, a Los Angeles County judge set the ground rules for a summer trial between Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock over commissions Blackstock paid himself as Clarkson's manager. The trial will solely address whether Blackstock violated the Talent Agencies Act by procuring deals for Clarkson while not being a licensed talent agent.
The dispute stems from a 2020 California Labor Commissioner ruling that largely sided with Clarkson, awarding her $2.6 million. Blackstock appealed the ruling, leading to a "de novo" trial.
Blackstock's lawyers initially requested a wide-ranging discovery process, including inquiries into Clarkson's personal finances. However, the judge rejected this request, ruling that the August trial would focus solely on whether Blackstock collected fees in violation of California law.
Clarkson's lawyer argued that if she prevails in the de novo proceeding, Blackstock and Starstruck Entertainment would be barred from pursuing claims in their 2020 lawsuit against Clarkson. The judge agreed, noting that Clarkson's deal with Starstruck was oral and may have been voided by Blackstock's alleged illegal tactics.
In another victory for Clarkson, the judge ruled that the de novo trial would include Clarkson's fees paid to Blackstock for procuring her daytime talk show, "The Kelly Clarkson Show". Previously, the labor commissioner had found that Blackstock could keep commissions for "The Kelly Clarkson Show," but Clarkson argued that they should be repaid.
The judge also ordered Blackstock and Starstruck to post a bond of nearly $4 million to ward off having to pay the $2.6 million judgment pending the retrial.
The August trial is expected to last at least five days, with live testimony from witnesses not available at the labor commission hearing last year. Testimony from music agents at Clarkson's talent agency CAA could be crucial, as Blackstock claims they were present when he negotiated the deal with NBC for Clarkson's role on "The Voice." However, Rolling Stone has obtained filings stating that the agents deny this claim.
The couple's bitter breakup was highlighted during the commission's evidentiary hearing last year, where Clarkson testified that Blackstock discouraged her from pursuing a role on "The Voice" because she was not a "sex symbol."
Clarkson filed for divorce from Blackstock in June 2020, and the divorce was finalized last year. Blackstock intends to appeal the labor commissioner's ruling.
