It's been a very ugly and drawn out legal battle for Kesha and Dr. Luke. Nearly one year ago, the singer first filed a lawsuit against the producer for sexual assault and battery and the producer struck right back with a lawsuit for extortion. Since then, the ugliness has been relentless with suits implying threats and rape as more reports surfaced but the case was put on hold by a Los Angeles judge a few months back.
Now, their legal battle is making headlines once again as Kesha's lawyers pushed for a preliminary injunction last Friday according to The Hollywood Reporter. In the court papers, Mark Geragos explains to the New York judge: "Until this Court rules on the declaratory judgment claim, Kesha is at an impasse. She cannot work with music producers, publishers, or record labels to release new music. With no new music to perform, Kesha cannot tour. Off the radio and stage and out of the spotlight, Kesha cannot sell merchandise, receive sponsorships, or get media attention. Her brand value has fallen, and unless the Court issues this injunction, Kesha will suffer irreparable harm, plummeting her career past the point of no return." "I know I cannot work with Dr. Luke," Kesha added. "I physically cannot. I don't feel safe in any way."
In a motion of support, former president and CEO of Universal Music Group Distribution Jim Urie submitted an affidavit fortifying Kesha's lawyers' claim. “No mainstream distribution company will invest the money necessary to distribute songs for an artist who has fallen from the public eye, as is happening to Kesha at this very moment. Accordingly, if Kesha cannot immediately resume recording and having her music promoted, marketed, and distributed by a major label, her career is effectively over.”
Music giant Sony also chimed in for the first time. After Kesha ratified her claim to include the label for allowing this to go on, the company writes in their own report to the court that they have been "caught in the crossfire." They continue in their dismissal notion "This admission — that Sebert never spoke of or reported the alleged misconduct — is fatal to each and every one of her claims against Sony and Kemosabe Records...In short, Sebert cannot have it both ways: She cannot claim that Gottwald intimidated her into silence, then — as an apparent afterthought — seek to hold Sony and Kemosabe Records liable for failing to act on conduct that she did not report."
