Chicago Jury Awards Chance $35, Denies Manager's $3.8M Claim

A Chicago jury delivered a mixed verdict Friday in a long-running legal dispute between Chance the Rapper and his former manager, Pat Corcoran, awarding the rapper a nominal $35 in damages while rejecting Corcoran's claim for $3.8 million in unpaid commissions.

The case stemmed from the professional split between Chance, whose real name is Chancelor Bennett, and Corcoran, known professionally as Pat the Manager, who had worked together since 2012. Their partnership ended in 2020, shortly after the release of Chance's 2019 album, The Big Day. Corcoran filed suit that November in Cook County court, alleging an oral agreement entitled him to a 15 percent commission on the rapper's profits, plus a three-year "sunset clause" that would extend payments after their separation. He claimed the arrangement covered unreimbursed expenses and contributions to Chance's career, including promotion and distribution efforts.

Chance countersued the following year, seeking $1 million in damages. He accused Corcoran of breaching fiduciary duties through mismanagement, self-dealing and prioritizing personal business interests over the artist's projects. Chance's legal team highlighted issues such as...