Atlanta music group Migos are suing their lawyer Damien Granderson for stealing millions of dollars from them through “excessive fees” without proper authorization, and for failure to mention conflicts of interest from his representation of their label, according to Billboard.
The group, comprised of Quavious Marshall (Quavo), Kiari Cephus (Offset), and Kirsnick Ball (Takeoff), are taking legal action not only against Granderson but also his current firm, Granderson Des Rochers, as well as his previous one, Davis Shapiro.
The group is suing him for professional malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, violation of California Business & Professions Code 6147 and 6148, unfair competition and unjust enrichment. They are asking for restitution and punitive damages, as well as an affirmation that the 5% unexpected fee agreement is inadequate.
In the complaint to the court, Migos attorney Bryan Freedman wrote:
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“Granderson was working with Migos since the group’s early days, including on the 2014 deal to have 300 Entertainment distribute Migos’ debut album, Yung Rich Nation. At that time, the group’s members were in their late teens and early twenties and had nothing more than high school education.”
The group’s attorney claims that Granderson viewed the Migos as “easy targets” and tricked them into a deal that could benefit him by landing him Quality Control Music as a client. The suit claims that Granderson created a legal argument with 300 to switch the group to Capitol Records.
Freedman also wrote:
“Granderson later exacerbated the harm he caused to Migos by negotiating a 2018 amendment to the exclusive label agreement between QCM and Capitol Records. That amendment triggered an extension of the exclusive recording agreement between QCM and Migos, which Granderson knew to contain terms that were unconscionable for Migos.”
According to the suit, those specific terms forced the group to give control to Capital Records if they decided to terminate their relationship with QCM.
Freedman continued:
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“Granderson effectively prevented his other client — Migos — from ever being free of paying excessive compensation to QCM, from ever being signed to any other record label, and from ever obtaining negotiating leverage to secure reasonable terms in connection with the distribution of its musical recordings.”
Granderson is also being accused of creating errors in multiple agreements while practicing law without a California license several years after relocating to Los Angeles from New York.
Billboard reached out to Granderson for comment, but he has yet to respond. However, Quality Control CEO Pierre” Pee” Thomas has since responded, saying,” it is unfortunate that the same people that we have worked hard for, provided opportunities for, and championed for are now alleging that we have participated in any kind of immoral or unfair business practices or took advantage of them and their careers, especially while we are dealing with the death of an artist on our label that was dear to us. We have always practiced honest business and complete transparency from the beginning when we started Quality Control Music.”
” We built this business on family values, which has been so hard to do when you are dealing with so much pride and ego. The problem that I have been struggling with in this business as black man is jealousy, hate, division, and lack of communication. I was a millionaire before I got in the music business and for me to know the sacrifices I have made for the people that I have invested in and put every dollar, blood, sweat, and tears into is nonsense. I will not stand by and let Quality Control Music’s reputation and everything we have built and sacrificed be tarnished by allegations of unfair and unjust business practices. I am a student of this game and I have watched several black record label owner’s get destroyed by the same things that I am facing right now,” he said.
” This is why majority of the people in this business end up in financial turmoil and ultimately failing to reach their full potential. It is hard enough to be fighting and battling with corporations and the powers that be, I am not doing it with those who I consider family. I love my artists and I love my team. Everyone has their own lawyers. I understand in this business that you are not always going to end with the people you started with. I say that to say, I am not forcing anybody to be in business with us that has a problem and cannot communicate and does not want to work as a unit. Everything is negotiable. I wish my whole team more money, more blessings, and continued success. #longlivemarlo”
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