Artist manager Carl Stubner and Sanctuary Artist Management, which Stubner heads up, have responded to the lawsuit issued against them by Motley Crue earlier this week. As previously reported, the legendary rock band launched litigation against Stubner, who manages the band's drummer Tommy Lee, claiming that through mis-management the manager had damaged Lee's credibility and therefore the credibility of the band at large, while making the drummer unavailable for lucrative tours, costing the other band members money.
Stubner and Sanctuary's statement stressed in the main that neither he nor the company have any direct management role with regards Motley Crue at large - presumably in a bid to demonstrate that they owe no duty to the band itself and therefore cannot be held liable for any impact Lee's career has on it. The defendants told reporters: "Neither Carl Stubner nor Sanctuary Artist Management Inc (nor any other Sanctuary company) have ever managed Motley Crue or any members of Motley Crue other than Tommy Lee. Mr Stubner and Sanctuary continue to manage Tommy Lee and make no apology for having effectively managed, promoted and furthered Tommy's career with great success. Mr Stubner and Sanctuary will vociferously defend this lawsuit which is utterly and entirely without merit or basis".
However, the band's attorney, Skip Miller, has issued his own statement arguing that, through his association with Lee, Stubner did, in fact, get involved in the wider management of Motley Crue and, therefore, does owe them a duty of care in his role as manager. He told reporters yesterday: "For Mr Stubner to assert, as he now does in response to this lawsuit, that neither he nor his companies have ever participated in the management of Motley Crue is simply absurd. Mr Stubner took part in numerous meetings and conference calls regarding the management of Motley Crue. In fact, Mr Stubner and Sanctuary Artist Management have been paid nearly $1 million in commissions from the band for their management services. Mr Stubner and Sanctuary are now going to have to explain their actions, and the receipt of all these commissions, to a judge and jury".
It is not yet clear when the case will go to court. Sanctuary, of course, is currently subject to a takeover battle, with Universal Music winning the Sanctuary board's support in their takeover bid.