The first blow to former Slipknot percussionist Chris Fehn has been dealt. During a court appearance on Monday (11/26), Justice Melissa Anne Crane granted a motion to dismiss claims against Slipknot business manager Rob Shore on the grounds that there was not enough evidence that Shore was working in a fiduciary capacity to Fehn.
Justice Crane questioned why Shore was named in the suit because of a “default” rule that says “individuals are typically protected by corporate structures.” Said Crane, “I don’t think it’s enough to hold him individually accountable. It’s not clear he was doing something on the side.”
This whole ordeal began back in March when Fehn sued former bandmates Corey Taylor and Shawn Crahan, six of the band’s business entities, Shore and Rob Shore & Associates, Inc (RSA), alleging that he wasn’t being paid fairly for his work. The suit claimed that there were several businesses formed in the band’s name that he was not aware of that other members were profiting from.
A motion to dismiss Fehn’s lawsuit was filed by Shore back in July. The motion claimed that Shore did nothing wrong and that Fehn was never a full member of the band and was paid accordingly, saying in an affidavit:
“Fehn performed with Slipknot and received a fee for doing so. He is not a shareholder, owner or member of any business entity he names as a defendant in this action.”
Even though the suit against Shore was dismissed, the claim against his company Rob Shore & Associates, Inc, has not.
Two more motions were also scheduled to be heard on Monday were rescheduled for January 3. The first, from Taylor, Crahan and the band’s non-New York-registered corporations, claims a “lack of personal jurisdiction” as grounds for dismissal. The second, from the band’s New York-based corporations, seeks dismissal on the grounds that Fehn’s suit “fails to state a cause of action.”
Said Justice Crane at the end of Monday’s hearing:
“This is done against Mr. Shore. You have replied. He’s out. RSA is likely in but I’ll render a decision on the 3rd. And I’ll try to get everything ruled on from the bench.”
Slipknot released their sixth album, We Are Not Your Kind, in August. The band wrapped up a North American run of their Knotfest Roadshow in September and will finish out the year with shows in Mexico and South America. They will then head out on tours in Europe and East Asia in the new year. All dates can be found on the Slipknot website.
