US rockers Local H have entered a legal battle with their former drummer, accusing him of selling unauthorised posters, among other things.
While members of the group had been playing together since the late ’80s, it was 1990 in which Scott Lucas, Joe Daniels, John Sparkman, and Matt Garcia formally formed the group Local H.
Throughout the ’90s, the group ended up scoring quite a bit of fame thanks to their breakthrough single ‘Bound For The Floor’, alongside other memorable tunes like ‘High-Fiving MF’ and ‘Eddie Vedder’.
However, after three records, an extensive tour of Australia, and a bunch of label issues, founding drummer Joe Daniels left the group, though he would briefly reunite with the band in 2016 for an anniversary tour.
Now, as Billboard reports, Local H are engaged in a legal battle with Daniels, accusing him of “trademark infringement, false advertising, cybersquatting, unfair competition” and other offences.
In a complaint filed in an Illinois court over the weekend, Local H singer Scott Lucas claims that Joe Daniels has been selling a number of tour posters bearing the group’s name without permission.
While Lucas claims that he owns the Local H trademark through his Lifers, Inc company, Daniels has sold close to 1,000 posters at $20 each, netting him $18,300 in the process.
“Daniels has in bad faith intended to profit from the use of the [Trade]Marks and/or at worst upon information and belief intended to divert sales of authorized products away from Lifers,” the complaint notes.
While Scott Lucas is asking for Joe Daniels to cease using the trademark and to hand over all profits from the sales, he’s also asking for an unspecified amount in damages.
As Billboard also notes, the suit was filed after Lucas personally contacted Daniels in March, only to himself be threatened with legal action. After receiving a case and desist letter, Lucas took to the matter to court, where it looks set to play out between lawyers.
Check out Local H’s ‘Bound For The Floor’:
