Levon Helm Studios filed a lawsuit against Amy Helm over alleged self-dealing. Stereogum reports the lawsuit claims that “Amy [allegedly] used money for her own personal and career interests, concealing transactions from the other shareholders and costing the company at least $2 million in damages, including about $400,000 charged to the company “with no apparent business purpose.” The plaintiffs claim that Amy [allegedly] used company money over the years for her home and tax payments, health and life insurance, her driver and personal lawyer, and the lease on her tour van” (Stereogum). The lawsuit also claimed that Amy allegedly used show cancelations to stop company’s investigation into her endeavors. “It also accuses her of copyright infringement and seeks to bar her from using the “Helm Family Midnight Ramble” name, as well as repayment and monetary and punitive damages” (Stereogum).
As new information comes out, it became apparent that Amy and her stepmom Sandra Helm controlled 40% of Levon Helm Studios each and Levon’s two friends Brian Parillo and Barbara O’Brien controlled 10% of the company apiece. In May shareholders removed Amy from management and made Parillo CEO. In court, Amy allegedly “accused Parillo of “financial exploitation and elder abuse” of Sandra, who is 76. In response, Parillo claimed that Amy had financially mismanaged the space and that the other shareholders were conducting an “investigation” for possible “malfeasance.” Now, Levon Helm Studios is suing Amy, accusing her of millions of dollars in “self-dealing” (Stereogum).
On July 30th, Amy released a statement “referring to her ousting from Levon Helm Studios as a “shakedown” and “extortion”: “The question that should be asked is: Who is Brian Parillo and who is bankrolling him?… Although they have told me that I am barred from the property and have changed the locks, nobody will be kicking me out of a home I co-own or separating me from my father’s legacy” (Stereogum). Yesterday, Amy said that the Ramble is continuing as a tour act but is no longer using Midnight in the name.
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