The following statement comes courtesy of Stephen M. Doniger, Esq.:
“After the four remaining original members of Ratt (Pearcy, DeMartini, Croucier and Blotzer) finished touring in 2014, Bobby Blotzer began touring as Bobby Blotzer’s Ratt Experience, and Juan Croucier began touring as Ratt’s Juan Croucier. Realizing that he could make ten times as much per show touring as Ratt, Blotzer relabeled his cover band as Ratt, over the objections of every other member of the band. He then proceeded to get into litigation with each of his three partners in an effort to usurp control of the Ratt name, claiming that WBS owned the band name and he controlled WBS.
A Federal District Court in the Central District of California has now Ordered judgment to be entered against WBS/Blotzer, finding that WBS does not own the Ratt name (WBS, Inc. v. Juan Croucier et al., Case No. 2:15-cv-07251-DDP). Under a 1985 written Ratt Partnership Agreement, the name/trademarks are the property of the partnership and can only be transferred with the unanimous approval of all partners. Thus, in 1997 when Blotzer, DeMartini and Pearcy purported to transfer the trademarks to WBS, that transfer was invalid since Juan Croucier (Ratt bassist) whom was still a partner, and never advised of, let alone consented to, the transfer. Thus, the partnership still owns the Ratt name.
Pearcy, DeMartini and Croucier have also expelled Blotzer from the partnership. Blotzer thus has no further interest in the Ratt name and may now only refer to himself as a “former member of Ratt” as per the partnership agreement. DeMartini, Pearcy and Croucier look forward to continuing to tour as Ratt and thank their fans for all the ongoing support.”
10 Responses
The post the Blotzer makes in the next 24-48 hours will be epic lawyer speak. It’ll end with ‘I hope my 3 brothers will now keep their fiduciary duty and continue to perform under the RATT moniker as I have done for the past 2 years, as I have only done this in an attempt to keep the RATT brand alive an well which was my legal responsibility in the first place’.
I really hope this is the end of the “Tug Of War!” I don’t Juant to hear anymore about lawsuits, all I Juant to hear is RATT kicking ass again!
Interesting…the headline for this article yesterday said Blotzer hijacked the Ratt name, or something like that. Wonder why it changed?
The original headline was supplied by the source. We decided change it, to reflect a neutral tone.
Thanks,
D 🙂
Well Bob, looks like you will be having a happy holiday season.