EXCLUSIVE: Cher Loses Bitter Financial Court Battle Against Sonny Bono’s Widow
Cher’s Legal Battle Over Royalties Ends with a Costly Defeat
Cher, the legendary singer and actress, has recently encountered a significant blow in her extended legal dispute with Mary Bono, the widow of her late ex-husband Sonny Bono. Although Cher prevailed in the core royalties dispute concerning Sonny Bono’s music catalog, a federal judge has ruled against her in the matter of attorney’s fees. This ruling forces Cher to bear over $1 million in legal expenses, despite her courtroom victory on the underlying issues.
The case, which has spanned nearly five years, revolved around the interpretation of copyright termination notices and the contractual royalty rights established in the 1978 Marriage Settlement Agreement between Cher and Sonny Bono. The dispute reignited in October 2021 when Cher filed a lawsuit challenging Mary Bono’s attempts to terminate certain copyright interests in Sonny’s catalog. While Cher successfully defended her royalty rights, the recent court decision denies her motion to recover the substantial legal fees she incurred during the litigation.
The Court’s Reasoning Behind Denying Cher’s Attorney Fee Request
U.S. District Judge John A. Kronstadt delivered the ruling that denied Cher’s motion to have Mary Bono reimburse her for attorney’s fees, which amounted to $1,023,605.30, plus an additional estimated $10,000 for reply preparation. Cher’s legal team argued that these costs were justified given the extensive work involved, including drafting complaints, handling discovery disputes, depositions, motions for summary judgment, trial preparation, and settlement negotiations.
However, the judge clarified that Cher’s rights to royalties and approvals stemmed from the parties’ Marriage Settlement Agreement rather than copyright ownership itself. This distinction was crucial because it meant that the attorney-fee provision under Section 505 of the Copyright Act did not apply to this case. The Copyright Act allows for fee recovery only in certain copyright infringement cases, but since the dispute was governed by contract law, the court ruled that Cher could not claim attorney’s fees under this statute.
Judge Kronstadt explicitly stated, “In light of the foregoing, because section 505 does not apply to the matter at issue, Plaintiff’s Motion is DENIED.” This decision means Cher must absorb her own legal expenses despite winning the substantive claims related to her royalty rights.
Implications of the Ruling and What It Means for Both Parties
This ruling does not overturn Cher’s earlier success in securing her royalty and approval rights connected to Sonny Bono’s music catalog. Instead, it solely addresses the separate issue of whether Mary Bono should be responsible for Cher’s legal fees. The judge’s decision effectively closes the chapter on Cher’s attempt to shift the financial burden of the litigation onto Mary.
The legal battle has been a prolonged and bitter one, with both sides fiercely contesting the impact of federal copyright termination notices and the enforceability of the contractual royalty interests established decades ago. Now, with the court’s latest order, each party will bear its own legal costs, marking an end to this costly dispute.
For Cher, this outcome is a financial setback, as she must now cover the significant legal fees incurred despite her victory. For Mary Bono, the ruling is a relief, as she avoids the obligation to pay Cher’s attorney’s fees. The decision underscores the complexity of legal battles involving intellectual property rights intertwined with contractual agreements and highlights the challenges artists and their estates face in navigating such disputes.
Conclusion
Cher’s loss in the fight to recover attorney’s fees from Sonny Bono’s widow marks a pivotal moment in a long-standing legal saga. While Cher successfully defended her royalty rights, the court’s refusal to award her legal costs serves as a reminder of the financial risks involved in protracted litigation. Fans and observers alike will be watching closely to see if either party takes further legal action or if this ruling finally brings closure to the dispute.
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