Judge Orders Kennedy Center to Pay Musician Over $250,000 After Lawsuit Dismissed
A federal judge dismissed the Kennedy Center's lawsuit against jazz musician Chuck Redd and ordered the venue to cover more than $250,000 in his legal fees.
A Washington, D.C. judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts against jazz drummer and vibraphonist Chuck Redd and ordered the center to pay the musician more than $250,000 in legal costs. Redd had cancelled a Christmas Eve concert in late 2022 after the center added President Donald Trump's name to its marble facade, saying he would feel "profoundly uncomfortable" performing under those circumstances. The center’s president at the time, Richard Grenell, wrote to Redd warning that the venue would sue for $1 million, describing the cancellation as a "political stunt." The center later sued in D.C. Superior Court for an unspecified amount, alleging breach of contract. The court found the case meritless and awarded Redd his attorney fees.