UPDATED 11/29, 10:33 p.m. ET: The lawsuit allegedly stems from Oates planning to sell off his share of the duo's joint venture Whole Oats Enterprises without Hall's approval.
In a declaration obtained by the Associated Press, Hall called Oates' decision to sell his share to Primary Wave the "ultimate partnership betrayal." Hall is seeking an order that will prevent the sale from going through.
The suit argues that the letter of intent regarding the sale of the shares submitted by Oates indicates their business agreement was disclosed to Primary Wave and therefore violates a confidentiality provision. Hall added he would not have approved the sale.
"I am deeply troubled by the deterioration of my relationship with, and trust in, John Oates," Hall said in the declaration.
One thing the two can agree on is the troubled state of their relationship.
Hall claims Oates has been "adversarial and aggressive instead of professional and courteous" over the last few years, leading to a discussion about what to do with Whole Oats Enterprises. Oates allegedly wanted to dissolve their touring entity and use a separate partnership to handle publishing and composition rights. Hall allegedly preferred to dissolve their entire venture.
In his own declaration, Oates seems to agree with the existence of a rift lasting several years, but attributes the divide to Hall being more focused on himself than the band.
"Over the years, Daryl has consistently and publicly been adamant about being perceived as an individual rather than as part of a duo or group. Thus, he has insisted on our being known as 'Daryl Hall and John Oates,' rather than the more commonly known 'Hall & Oates,'" he said. "On this point I agree. I now must act with truthfulness and make decisions that are right for myself, my family, and my artistic future."
A court hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
See original story below.
John Oates has released a statement amid his ongoing legal feud with Hall & Oates bandmate Daryl Hall.
Earlier this week, Oates took to his Instagram page with a message calling for "communal reflection" for those who are going through difficult times. According to Oates, people should reach out and support those in need.
"During this time of communal reflection and connection with loved ones, let's not forget those experiencing challenges globally," he wrote. "As we come together, consider reaching out to support those in need—whether through local charities or international humanitarian initiatives. May our collective efforts contribute to a more compassionate and supportive world. -J.O. 👊🏽."
Oates's message comes after his bandmate Daryl Hall filed an undisclosed complaint against him earlier this month, alongside putting forth a motion for a temporary restraining order. The restraining order will start on Nov. 30, with the details of the lawsuit remaining relatively scarce.
Hall openly criticized Oates during an appearance on Bill Maher's Club Random podcast last year. As mentioned by TMZ, Hall said, "You think John Oates is my partner? … He's my business partner. He's not my creative partner." He also described Oates as his "brother" but not his "creative brother."
Ultimately, Hall claimed they were business partners with the music and nothing more. "We made records called Hall & Oates together, but we've always been very separate, and that's a really important thing for me," he said.
The duo has never officially split up, but they haven't released an album together since their 2006 holiday record, Home for Christmas. Throughout their career as recording artists, which started in 1970 after they met in 1967, they released 18 studio albums and scored six No. 1 singles.
