Mick Mars wins battle amid ongoing legal war with Mötley Crüe
American rock band Mötley Crüe have lost their latest legal battle in the ongoing dispute with ex-member Mick Mars.
Last April, Mars, their former guitarist, brought a lawsuit against the band after claiming his percentage of profits had been cut following his retirement.
After being forced to retire due to ongoing spinal arthritis, Mars alleged his profits were slashed by 20 per cent to five per cent. As the case evolved, it became deeply personal, with Mars accusing Nikki Sixx of “gaslighting him” and Sixx responding by saying: “We don’t deserve this considering how many years we’ve been propping him up.”
Los Angeles judge James C. Chalfant has now ruled that the band’s refusal to turn over documents to Mars on time means their former guitarist was left with no choice but to sue.
Mars’ attorney, Ed McPherson, said: “Finally, somebody, somewhere, told these guys they can’t bully Mick anymore.”
The eight-month delay in these documents means they will now pay Mars’ legal fees. In his ruling, Judge Chalfant said Mars’ request was “not burdensome”.
However, the lawyers for both parties are now taking victory laps after the judge also ruled Mars’ lawsuit “moot”.
Attorney Sasha Frid claimed to Rolling Stone that Mötley Crüe’s lead lawyer had said: “The case is over. That’s the key takeaway.”
During a previous interview with Variety, Mars said: “It just makes me really upset that they want to try and bully me more or less out of the band, so it’s the last man standing that collects everything. And if there’s any real justice to it, I’d be the one that would be the only one that has no criminal record. I’m pure. I’m clean as a freshly washed baby.”
In a separate legal issue last year, drummer Tommy Lee was accused in a lawsuit of sexual assault by an unnamed woman. As yet, Lee has not publicly commented on the lawsuit.
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