In a recent update to the dispute related to late-Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell's unreleased recordings, a decision out of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington comes as good news to Vicky Cornell, Chris Cornell's widow and administrator of the Cornell estate. Cornell was represented by James Sammataro, a partner and co-chair of the firm’s Media + Entertainment Group.

According to a recent announcement:

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michelle Peterson recommended on Thursday that claims related to the prominent grunge-rock band's recording contract with Universal Music be dismissed because Soundgarden didn't show Chris Cornell or his estate was personally liable under it.

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Vicky Cornell, who administers her late husband's estate, first sued Soundgarden in 2019 in Miami federal court, alleging the band members withheld the estate's share of royalties to "strong-arm" her into turning over unreleased recordings Chris Cornell made before his death in 2017. She filed an amended complaint after the case was moved to the band's home state of Washington in 2020, asking for the withheld revenue, damages, and a declaration that the estate solely owns the recordings, among other things.

Read the full announcement below.