Who Are The Potential Witnesses In Drake's Lawsuit Against UMG?
In the amended 'initial disclosure' document viewed by VIBE, more than 60 people or companies are listed by Drake and his legal team as those who may have testimony that support his claims. As noted in the filing, 'disclosures do not include persons whose testimony is likely to be used solely for impeachment, rebuttal, or expert witness testimony.'
The full list named executives from Interscope, Jesse Collins of Roc Nation, Avery Lipman, PresidentRepublic Records, as well as the companies Amazon Music, the NFL, Apple Inc., Instagram, and various media outlets. Drake himself is also named as a potential witness in the landmark litigation.
Also listed is Kojo Menne Asamoah, who is described as having knowledge of the Defendant's use of covert tactics to promote the defamatory material. An additional document filed included a motion to subpoena Asamoah as a 'relevant witness.'
'Based on the information available to Plaintiff today, Plaintiff believes that Mr. Asamoah possesses knowledge relating to UMG's use of covert tactics to promote the Defamatory Material, including because Plaintiff believes that Mr. Asamoah was involved in directing payments and/or financial incentives from UMG to third parties involved in online botting for the purpose of artificially inflating the streaming numbers of the Recording,' detailed the filing.
'Plaintiff believes that Mr. Asamoah engaged in this behavior through and/or in connection with his relationship with Ramon Alvarez-Smikle, the Executive Vice President and Head of Digital Marketing of UMG's Interscope Records. Mr. Alvarez-Smikle is listed as a witness on both Plaintiff's and UMG's initial disclosures.'
In its initial disclosures, UMG has a shorter list of potential witnesses, with Kendrick Lamar named as 'likely to have discoverable information concerning the creation of the Recording, Image and Video, and the distribution and promotion of the Recording and Video.'
Although named in the court documents, no person or company listed is guaranteed to be called to the witness stand if the case makes it to trial.
'UMG is desperate to see this case not move forward because the company can't hide its misconduct in a courtroom the way it does in the boardroom,' shared a statement from representatives for the Certified Lover Boy earlier this month. 'Soon, in addition to facing concerned regulators and investors, the leadership of music's most powerful label will have to answer for the damage it has caused to every artist that has been silenced, exploited, endangered or discarded.'
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