Vybz Kartel wins $6m lawsuit over US concert

A New York court has dismissed a six-million-dollar lawsuit linked to the promotion of Vybz Kartel’s US concerts and the visa arrangements that allowed the Jamaican dancehall artist to perform in the country.

The ruling, delivered by Justice Brendan Lantry in the New York Supreme Court, brings the case to a close and prevents the claims from being brought again in the same court.

Kartel was represented by The Townsend Law Firm, led by attorney Kadian Townsend, who described the outcome as a major win for both the artiste and his team.

Speaking after the decision, Ms Townsend said the judgment carried both personal and professional significance. She said it was a moment of gratitude and relief, and added that her client was pleased the case had been resolved without wider damage to his business interests.

She said the ruling had helped to avoid potential fallout that could have affected Kartel financially and professionally, including his commercial relationships and performance rights.

The lawsuit had been filed in July last year in Kings County Supreme Court by Karen Soltau-Mutebi and The Conglomerate Group Inc, a company involved in entertainment promotion.

Court documents said the company promoted Kartel’s performances at Amerant Bank Arena in Florida and Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The claim centred on allegations against promoter Cassandra Johnson, also known as CJ Milan, who is associated with Epic League Events and Reggae Fest. The plaintiffs accused her of interfering with business arrangements linked to Kartel’s US appearances.

They sought damages and other court orders on claims including alleged interference with business relationships, defamation, unjust enrichment and the misappropriation of business opportunities.

At one stage, the legal dispute raised the prospect of an injunction that could have disrupted Kartel’s major concert run in the United States last year or affected revenue generated from those performances.

The disagreement focused in part on who had the authority to promote the deejay’s US shows after an O-1B visa petition was filed on his behalf. The O-1B visa is used by artists and performers recognised for extraordinary ability.

According to the complaint, the plaintiffs said they had handled the legal and practical steps needed to secure the visa and had also arranged a number of performances, including two concerts at Barclays Center in Brooklyn in April 2025.

The filing also stated that Ms Johnson had initially assisted with those shows with the plaintiffs’ approval and had accounted to them for that work.

But the plaintiffs alleged that the relationship later broke down when she began promoting further concerts on her own, including events at State Farm Arena in Atlanta and CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, without their authorisation or any sharing of proceeds.

The matter did not go to trial. Instead, the court dismissed the case with prejudice, effectively ending the action in that court and handing Kartel and his legal team a decisive victory.