DAVID LEE ROTH Sues VAN HALEN!

December 13, 2002

David Lee Roth has filed suit against Warner Bros. Records and his former bandmates in VAN HALEN, claiming he was underpaid royalties, Billboard Bulletin reports. According to the suit — filed Wednesday in California Superior Court for Los Angeles county — Warner Bros. Records and VAN HALEN signed a 1996 contract to raise the royalty rate on the band's catalog.

Roth argues that the 1996 agreement was instituted without his knowledge and was a "plan to divert royalties" due to him. The singer claims to be owed 25% of VAN HALEN's royalties, per a contract he signed upon leaving the band in 1986. He seeks damages to be determined at trial.

"This is not the first case — and probably not the last case — to examine entertainment industry financial and accounting practices," Roth's attorney said in a statement. "Until the defendants' financial records have been produced and reviewed, we will have no further comment."

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