A star-studded January 2019 memorial concert for late-Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell triggered a legal dispute between the band and the Cornell estate. Current members of Soundgarden and their affiliates alleged the over $1 million in proceeds from the benefit concert were misappropriated. Partner James Sammataro successfully represented Chris Cornell's widow in the matter, causing the group to drop their claims. As reported in The Hollywood Reporter:
Cornell's team, which includes [Pryor Cashman partner] James Sammataro, sent Soundgarden a letter the day after it filed its [claims] that characterized the charity-related allegations as "shameful and objectively frivolous" and provided financial information pertaining to the event. The band members issued a response letter, which isn't thoroughly detailed, and on June 24 Cornell's lawyers served a motion for Rule 11 sanctions against the band and its legal counsel.
According to the filing, the band still believes those claims were "well-founded" but they've agreed to voluntarily dismiss them "for reasons communicated" to Cornell's lawyers.
Legal matters related to the ownership of unreleased sound recordings are ongoing. Read the article, 'Soundgarden Drops Benefit Concert Claims Against Chris Cornell's Widow Amid Threat of Sanctions,' in The Hollywood Reporter.
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