The civil lawsuit against Electric Daisy Carnival Founder Pasquale Rotella by the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has been dismissed by a Los Angeles Superior Court. The lawsuit was based on allegation that Rotella and Reza Gerami of Go Ventures paid kickbacks to the former events manager Todd DeStefano for access and lower rates. This relationship was allegedly worth millions of dollars.
However Rotella and Gerami contend that the payments to DeStefano were legitimate and for consulting services. Given the many ways a consulting relationship can be interpreted, the suit didn’t hold much weight. The original lawsuit was rejected in July, but an amended filing was still possible. Now that has been thrown out by a Los Angeles Superior Court.
Insomniac attorney Gary Jay Kaufman in a statement,
“We have maintained from day one that the Coliseum’s meritless lawsuit was ill-conceived, politically motivated and publicity driven. We are very pleased that the Court recognized that Insomniac and Mr. Rotella’s business with the Coliseum was lawful and transparent.”
“With this civil suit behind them, Insomniac can now focus on doing what they do best—putting on the world’s greatest electronic dance music festivals.”
However Pasquale Rotella isn’t out of the woodwork yet. He still faces criminal charges in the case and if found guilty, could serve up to 14 years in prison. A hearing to dismiss those charges is scheduled for September 18.
via Marketwire / Hypebot