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Lawyers for Rosa Parks and representatives for BMG will finally come to the table in a settlement meeting scheduled to take place this month. According to Parks’ lawyer Gregory Reed, the settlement talks are aimed at ending a five-year-old dispute over Outkast’s hit song “Rosa Parks,” from their platinum 1998 album Aquemini.
Parks sued Outkast’s parent label, German corporate giant BMG, claiming that the company was profiting off of her name, which is a registered trademark.
The lawsuit also alleges the conglomerate defamed her name and legacy as a Civil Rights pioneer for African-Americans.
In the ongoing saga surrounding the dispute, Parks’ nieces have been excluded from providing testimony about the case due to credibility issues.
In October, a press release was issued on behalf of Parks’ family, stating that they sided with Outkast.
“These lawsuits are only about money and they [Reed and her caregiver Elaine Steele] are trying to acquire it from Outkast," the statement read.
Read said the judges decision bolstered his earlier denial of the families accusations.
“They didn’t see that they were valid or credible,” Reed told AllHipHop.com. “This is major, because they were using this as a platform to create a media frenzy and the court felt this was an abuse of Mrs. Parks. BMG has been hiding behind Outkast.”
Reed reiterated that Outkast was not the focus of the lawsuit. He defended himself saying “I don’t blame the family, I just think there is lack of understanding and they don’t know what the facts are.”
Those facts and more are expected to be revealed if the case goes to trial January 10, 2005.
Parks is being defended by some of the most powerful attorneys. Johnny Cochran, Willie Gary, Richard Manson and Stephanie Hammonds will defend the 91 year-old Parks, who cannot take the stand due to her age.
Source: allhiphop.com
Parks sued Outkast’s parent label, German corporate giant BMG, claiming that the company was profiting off of her name, which is a registered trademark.
The lawsuit also alleges the conglomerate defamed her name and legacy as a Civil Rights pioneer for African-Americans.
In the ongoing saga surrounding the dispute, Parks’ nieces have been excluded from providing testimony about the case due to credibility issues.
In October, a press release was issued on behalf of Parks’ family, stating that they sided with Outkast.
“These lawsuits are only about money and they [Reed and her caregiver Elaine Steele] are trying to acquire it from Outkast," the statement read.
Read said the judges decision bolstered his earlier denial of the families accusations.
“They didn’t see that they were valid or credible,” Reed told AllHipHop.com. “This is major, because they were using this as a platform to create a media frenzy and the court felt this was an abuse of Mrs. Parks. BMG has been hiding behind Outkast.”
Reed reiterated that Outkast was not the focus of the lawsuit. He defended himself saying “I don’t blame the family, I just think there is lack of understanding and they don’t know what the facts are.”
Those facts and more are expected to be revealed if the case goes to trial January 10, 2005.
Parks is being defended by some of the most powerful attorneys. Johnny Cochran, Willie Gary, Richard Manson and Stephanie Hammonds will defend the 91 year-old Parks, who cannot take the stand due to her age.
Source: allhiphop.com
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