A jury has ruled in favour of Chance the Rapper in a long-running legal dispute with his former manager Pat Corcoran, aka Pat the Manager.
The case was first brought by Corcoran in 2020, who was seeking $3.8million (£2.9million) in unpaid commissions. He claimed he was entitled to a 15 per cent commission, as well as a three-year “sunset clause” that would have continued payments after their professional split.
After a two-and-a-half week trial, the jury in Chicago returned their verdict on Friday (March 20), rejecting Corcoran’s claims, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
They also ruled on Chance’s countersuit, which accused Corcoran of breaching his fiduciary duty by prioritising his own business interests over Chance’s career. They sided with Chance, but the rapper was awarded only $35 (£26) in damages, rather than the $1million the suit had sought. The nominal sum recognised wrongdoing without evidence of significant financial harm.
Corcoran’s attorney Jay Scharkey told Billboard: ““We respect the jury’s decision, but the message to music managers is clear: Get it in writing. The jury award of $35 speaks to how seriously the jury viewed Chance’s case.”
NME have contacted Chance the Rapper for comment.
Corcoran’s legal team argued that he had been central to Chance’s rise, pointing to his role in projects like the triple Grammy-winning 2016 album ‘Coloring Book’. They also cited his contributions to promotion, distribution and independent management, framing him as a key figure in Chance’s early success.
Chance’s legal team countered that Corcoran had failed to fulfil his responsibilities in later years. They alleged mismanagement, including unfulfilled merchandise orders, and argued that Corcoran focused on his own ventures rather than Chance’s projects. They also noted that the post-termination “sunset clause” was never discussed until Corcoran filed his 2020 lawsuit.
