Grammy-winning R&B artist Ne-Yo and his booking agency have been ordered to pay $131,629.41

Towson, MD (August 25, 2010) - Grammy-winning R&B artist Ne-Yo and his booking agency have been ordered to pay $131,629.41 to Kenyohn Clark of Wet Entertainment after the singer failed to appear at a 2009 New Year's Eve performance in the Seattle area at the last minute, after tickets ranging from $125 to $1,275 for a platinum VIP package were sold, first class airline tickets were booked and hotel rooms were paid for according Jason C. Brino of Bowie & Jensen, Clark’s attorney.

An additional $24,565.64 in punitive damages were assessed against the booking agent, Mike Esterman, owner of Esterman Entertainment. The parties previously agreed any legal action stemming from the contract would be heard in Anne Arundel County, Maryland where Esterman was based at the time of the contract. Ne-Yo was named in the lawsuit under his given name, Shaffer Smith.

The contract began when Clark and Esterman Entertainment reached an agreement in early December 2008 for Ne-Yo to headline a New Year's Eve party in Bellevue, Wash., on Dec. 31 at a cost of $140,000. Clark, who had served with the US military in Iraq before launching Wet Entertainment wired $95,000 saved from military and other pay and loans from family to Esterman to secure Ne-Yo’s appearance.

On the day of the event, December 31, 2008, Clark received a cell phone text from Ne-Yo's travel agent saying Ne-Yo’s flight had been delayed and the performer would not arrive on time for the event. It was eventually decided that Ne-Yo would record an audio drop that when edited said “Hi this is Ne-Yo – sorry I couldn’t make it,” which was played for the crowd around 11:30 pm. The crowd began immediately booing, making noise and cursing. Clark was advised by a friend, an off-duty police officer, to leave and the ballroom that was to hold the much awaited party emptied.

Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County awarded in favor of Clark.

About Bowie & Jensen
Bowie & Jensen is a Maryland-based law firm with attorneys representing clients around the world. Bowie & Jensen focuses on Business Litigation, Business Transactions, Entertainment Law, Intellectual Property, Employment Law, Estates & Trusts, Tax and Construction Law. For more information on Bowie & Jensen, please visit www.bowie-jensen.com.