Supertramp co-founder Roger Hodgson has won a legal battle against three of his ex-bandmates over his songwriting royalties. The lawsuit, which was filed in 2019, alleged that Hodgson violated a 1977 agreement that granted them a share of his royalties for the songs he wrote and performed with the band.
The plaintiffs, bassist Dougie Thomson, saxophonist John Helliwell, and drummer Bob Siebenberg, claimed that they contributed to the recordings of Hodgson's songs and deserved a cut of the revenue they generated. They accused Hodgson of stopping the payments in 2018 without any justification and demanded that he pay them the royalties he owed them for the six albums they made together between 1973 and 1983. These albums include some of the band's most successful and acclaimed works, such as Crime of the Century, Breakfast in America, and Even in the Quietest Moments.
However, on Tuesday, a jury in a California federal court sided with Hodgson and found that he did not breach the contract with his former bandmates. The jury rejected the plaintiffs' argument that they had a valid and enforceable oral agreement with Hodgson and that he breached it by withholding the royalties. The jury also found that the plaintiffs did not prove that they suffered any damages as a result of Hodgson's actions.
Hodgson, who left Supertramp in 1983 to pursue a solo career, expressed his relief and gratitude after the verdict. He said that he was happy that he could finally put this matter behind him. He also thanked his fans for their support and said that he looked forward to continuing to share his music with them.
The plaintiffs' lawyer, Neville Johnson, said that he was disappointed and surprised by the verdict and that he planned to appeal.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]