*Daryl Hall is taking legal action against his longtime music partner, John Oates, over a limited liability partnership they formed.
Hall, 77, is attempting to block Oates, 75, from selling off his share, arguing that it would violate the terms of Hall & Oates’ business agreement.
Hall filed a lawsuit on Nov. 16 in Nashville Chancery Court and obtained a temporary restraining order against Oates, People reports. The judge temporarily blocked the sale of Oates’ share of Whole Oats Enterprises LLP to Primary Wave IP Investment Management LLC amid a previously initiated arbitration in a separately filed case, according to the Associated Press.
Hall & Oates formed in 1970 and became one of the most successful duos in rock history. Their ’70s and ’80s chart-topping hits include “Rich Girl,” “Kiss on My List,” “Private Eyes,” “I Can’t Go For that (No Can Do),” “Out of Touch,” and “Maneater.”
Hall’s legal motion notes that Oates’ share sale would cause him “imminent irreparable harm,” according to People.
“Mr. Oates team will work toward a resolution that makes sense for all involved, but for now we plan to let the facts, law and courts play this one out,” Derek C. Conover, an attorney for Oates, said in a statement.
“Hall appears to be trying to prevent John Oates from selling his shares in their collective joint venture which appears to own at least some rights to their catalog of music,” Danny Cevallos, NBC News legal analyst, said on TODAY.
“Musician’s catalogs are among the most precious thing they can own,” he added. “Because once they sell that off, they don’t really have a lot else.”
Hall & Oates have been sparring for years, with the former noting in a 2003 interview that the pair would be “better on our own, that seems to be the best thing for us,” Hall told TODAY.
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