A local businessman’s legal battle with his former rock star client lives on – at least for another month.
Getty Andrew Rothenberg on Thursday got a 20-day reprieve to amend and refile his lawsuit against Dave Matthews Band member Boyd Tinsley, who Rothenberg claims interfered with his finance management business and potential work with other musicians and pro athletes.
Richmond Circuit Court Judge Melvin R. Hughes gave Rothenberg the extra 20 days despite the efforts of Tinsley’s attorneys to have the case dismissed.
Rothenberg is currently on house arrest after serving nine months in federal prison for defrauding Tinsley. He is representing himself in his civil case against Tinsley.
“Today, I won a minor victory,” Rothenberg said in an email after Thursday’s hearing.
Rothenberg filed his initial suit in March in an attempt to force Tinsley to pay more than $10 million for the alleged damage he did to Rothenberg’s business career. The court ruled Rothenberg’s original complaint should be amended to remove salacious claims made about Tinsley’s personal life.
Rothenberg did refile his suit, and Tinley’s lawyers again argued to have the case dismissed with prejudice. Thursday’s hearing was called to address that request, but the judge decided to give Rothenberg another chance to amend his lawsuit and find a lawyer.
Tinsley is represented by Henry Willett and Michael Mueller of Christian & Barton.
At Thursday’s hearing, Willett argued that Rothenberg’s claims of tortious interference need to be made within the context of a competitive relationship. Because of their different professions, Rothenberg and Tinsley are not competing, and claims of tortious interference don’t apply, he argued.
“Mr. Tinsley is a musician, not a financial manager,” Willett said during the hearing.
Willett also argued that Rothenberg’s complaint failed to prove that Tinsley directly hurt Rothenberg’s alleged chances to work with tennis star Andy Roddick. Willett was skeptical that it wasn’t, in fact, Rothenberg’s felony conviction that damaged his business prospects.
Willett and Mueller would not comment on the case. Tinsley declined to comment through a representative.
Rothenberg argued Thursday that Tinsley hurt his business by forbidding him to work with anyone else, including Roddick. He added that he has emails proving he and Roddick were in talks to do business together. Rothenberg also said making oral contracts is considered normal in his line of work, and he said that was how he conducted business with Tinsley for 12 years.
Rothenberg had asked for 30 days to hire a lawyer and help him file a complaint that would include the emails he mentioned. He got 20, and the defense will have 10 days to file a response to any amended complaint.
“I couldn’t be more excited,” Rothenberg said. “This feels like a victory for me.”
A local businessman’s legal battle with his former rock star client lives on – at least for another month.
Getty Andrew Rothenberg on Thursday got a 20-day reprieve to amend and refile his lawsuit against Dave Matthews Band member Boyd Tinsley, who Rothenberg claims interfered with his finance management business and potential work with other musicians and pro athletes.
Richmond Circuit Court Judge Melvin R. Hughes gave Rothenberg the extra 20 days despite the efforts of Tinsley’s attorneys to have the case dismissed.
Rothenberg is currently on house arrest after serving nine months in federal prison for defrauding Tinsley. He is representing himself in his civil case against Tinsley.
“Today, I won a minor victory,” Rothenberg said in an email after Thursday’s hearing.
Rothenberg filed his initial suit in March in an attempt to force Tinsley to pay more than $10 million for the alleged damage he did to Rothenberg’s business career. The court ruled Rothenberg’s original complaint should be amended to remove salacious claims made about Tinsley’s personal life.
Rothenberg did refile his suit, and Tinley’s lawyers again argued to have the case dismissed with prejudice. Thursday’s hearing was called to address that request, but the judge decided to give Rothenberg another chance to amend his lawsuit and find a lawyer.
Tinsley is represented by Henry Willett and Michael Mueller of Christian & Barton.
At Thursday’s hearing, Willett argued that Rothenberg’s claims of tortious interference need to be made within the context of a competitive relationship. Because of their different professions, Rothenberg and Tinsley are not competing, and claims of tortious interference don’t apply, he argued.
“Mr. Tinsley is a musician, not a financial manager,” Willett said during the hearing.
Willett also argued that Rothenberg’s complaint failed to prove that Tinsley directly hurt Rothenberg’s alleged chances to work with tennis star Andy Roddick. Willett was skeptical that it wasn’t, in fact, Rothenberg’s felony conviction that damaged his business prospects.
Willett and Mueller would not comment on the case. Tinsley declined to comment through a representative.
Rothenberg argued Thursday that Tinsley hurt his business by forbidding him to work with anyone else, including Roddick. He added that he has emails proving he and Roddick were in talks to do business together. Rothenberg also said making oral contracts is considered normal in his line of work, and he said that was how he conducted business with Tinsley for 12 years.
Rothenberg had asked for 30 days to hire a lawyer and help him file a complaint that would include the emails he mentioned. He got 20, and the defense will have 10 days to file a response to any amended complaint.
“I couldn’t be more excited,” Rothenberg said. “This feels like a victory for me.”