Allman v. UMG Recordings
Plaintiffs, members of the Allman Brothers Band, sued UMG Recordings, Inc. for breach of contract, alleging unpaid royalties for the period of January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2003. UMG removed the case to federal court based on diversity jurisdiction and moved for summary judgment, arguing the claims were time-barred. The court examined the recording agreements from 1985 and 1994, which included "Objection Provisions" and "Limitation Provisions" requiring written objections within two years and commencing suit within three years, respectively. The court found that Plaintiffs' objections and subsequent lawsuit were untimely for most statements, and no exceptions like waiver or equitable estoppel applied. Consequently, the court granted UMG's motion for summary judgment and dismissed the complaint.