Led Zeppelin lose attempt to recoup legal fees from 'Stairway To Heaven' trial
The judge sides with Randy Wolfe's estate
Led Zeppelin have had their attempt to recoup $793,000 (£620k) in legal fees from the ‘Stairway To Heaven’ trial rejected.
Despite being found not guilty of copying Spirit’s 1968 song ‘Taurus’, the rock legends won’t be able to claim any money they spent for their defence.
On Monday (8th August) Judge R Gary Klausner deemed there was no evidence the estate of Spirit guitarist Randy ‘California’ Wolfe “harboured nefarious motives” so they are not obliged to pay Led Zeppelin’s legal fees.
Page and Plant’s representatives, along with publishing company Warner/Chappell, argued they deserved the legal fees because they won the case, the proceedings were an attempt to “shake down” Led Zeppelin and it was important to deter future frivolous litigation.
Their insurance company would not cover legal fees because the plagiarism claim dated back over four decades.
Despite acknowledging that Led Zeppelin won the case, Judge Klausner sided with Wolfe’s estate on the compensation claim.
Last month it was revealed that Michael Skidmore, who brought the original case against the legendary British rockers, filed a notice of appeal to the federal court.
The appeal was filed exactly a month to the day that a jury of four men and four women in Los Angeles dismissed the case against Led Zeppelin.
In a statement to Rolling Stone, Francis Malifoy, who represented Wolfe’s estate, said: "The lawsuit was objectively reasonable, and we are confident that any appeal will be successful.
“However, I will say that their allegations of misconduct are meritless and over the top. Anyone who was in the courtroom knows that there was no misconduct at the trial. To suggest otherwise is simply bad reporting."