Aston Barrett v Universal Island Records Ltd Neutral Citation Number: [2006] EWHC 1009 (Ch) Case No: HC 02 C00043 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE CHANCERY DIVISION Royal Courts of Justice Strand, London, WC2A 2LL Date: 15/05/2006 Before: MR JUSTICE LEWISON - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Between: ASTON BARRETT Claimant - and - (1) UNIVERSAL-ISLAND RECORDS LIMITED (2) UMG RECORDS INC (3) RITA MARLEY (4) CEDELLA ANITA MARLEY (5) DAVID NESTA MARLEY (6) STEPEHN ROBERT NESTA MARLEY (7) ROHAN ANTHONY MARLEY (8) ROBERT NESTA MARLEY (9) KAREN SOPHIA MICHELLE MARLEY (10) JULIAM RICARDO MARLEY (11) BLUE MOUNTAIN MUSIC LIMITED (12) ODNIL MUSIC LIMITED (13) FIFTY-SIX HOPE ROAD MUSIC LIMITED Defendants - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mr Stephen Bate and Mr Richard Munden (instructed by Hamlins) for the Claimant Ms Elizabeth Jones QC and Mr Daniel Lightman (instructed by Eversheds) for the Defendants Hearing dates: 16th 17th 27th 28th 29th 30th 31st March 2006 3rd 5th 6th 7th April 2006 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Approved Judgment I direct that pursuant to CPR PD 39A para 6.1 no official shorthand note shall be taken of this Judgment and that copies of this version as handed down may be treated as authentic. ............................. Mr Justice Lewison Aston Barrett V Universal Island Records Approved Judgment Mr Justice Lewison: Introduction and parties .........................................................................................................4 Approach to the evidence.......................................................................................................4 The witnesses ........................................................................................................................5 Bob Marley and the Wailers: the early years..........................................................................6 The contractual documents ....................................................................................................8 The contract claims................................................................................................................9 The copyright claims .............................................................................................................9 Money making: the general picture......................................................................................10 The arrival of Don Taylor ....................................................................................................10 The 1974 agreement ............................................................................................................11 What the documents show ...............................................................................................11 The contents of the 1974 agreements ...............................................................................12 The immediate aftermath .................................................................................................15 Natty Dread and Rastaman Vibration...................................................................................16 Management changes...........................................................................................................16 New advisers ...................................................................................................................16 A fifty-fifty split ..............................................................................................................17 Bob Marley and his companies ............................................................................................17 The 1975 agreement ............................................................................................................18 The Media Aides agreement ................................................................................................20 Other agreements.................................................................................................................21 Payments during Bob Marley’s lifetime...............................................................................22 Bob Marley’s death and its aftermath...................................................................................27 Previous claims by the Wailers ............................................................................................28 The 1986 New York action..............................................................................................28 The 1989 Jamaican action................................................................................................29 The 1989 New York action..............................................................................................31 The 1994 Settlement Agreement ......................................................................................32 Devolution of title................................................................................................................39 The current claim and its progress .......................................................................................40 The strike out application.................................................................................................40 The first issues for decision .................................................................................................40 The effect of the 1994 settlement agreement ........................................................................40 Introduction.....................................................................................................................40 Approach to construction.................................................................................................41 The context of the 1994 settlement agreement..................................................................42 The words of the settlement agreement ............................................................................43 Should the 1994 settlement agreement be enforced against Mr Aston Barrett?.................44 The position of the estate of Carlton Barrett.....................................................................46 Cause of action estoppel ......................................................................................................49 Introduction.....................................................................................................................49 The English test ...............................................................................................................49 New York law .................................................................................................................50 Abuse of process .................................................................................................................53 The test............................................................................................................................53 Application: Aston Barrett ...............................................................................................54 Application: the estate of Carlton Barrett .........................................................................56 Estoppel acquiescence and laches ........................................................................................56 Aston Barrett V Universal Island Records Approved Judgment Estoppel...........................................................................................................................56 Laches .............................................................................................................................57 Application......................................................................................................................58 The contract claims..............................................................................................................60 The pleaded case..............................................................................................................60 Was Carlton Barrett party to the 1974 recording agreement?............................................60 What Mr Barrett said .......................................................................................................60 Island Records’ version....................................................................................................61 Was Bob Marley an agent for the Barrett brothers?..........................................................66 The 1975 agreement ........................................................................................................67 The Media Aides agreement ............................................................................................67 Trust of a promise? ..........................................................................................................68 What is the breach of contract alleged?............................................................................70 Unjust enrichment ...............................................................................................................70 Partnership issues ................................................................................................................71 Music making: the general picture .......................................................................................72 A fraud on Danny Sims?......................................................................................................76