PHILADELPHIA - The former jazz director with the Philly POPS has filed a racketeering lawsuit that accuses it of trying to monopolize the market for live orchestral music.
Terell Stafford, a musician and former artistic director for Jazz at the Philly POPS, filed a lawsuit May 22 in federal court against Encore Series Inc. (doing business as The Philly POPS), The Philadelphia Orchestra Association, The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center Inc., Ticket Philadelphia, Frank Giordano, and Matias Tarnopolsky.
The suit alleges wrongful termination, breaches of contract, tortious interference, and violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and the Sherman Antitrust Act.
Stafford claims he was wrongfully terminated due to a conspiracy by the defendants to monopolize the market for live orchestral music in Philadelphia. He asserts that this conspiracy resulted in his constructive termination from his role with the Philly POPS.
According to Stafford's complaint, he was promised continued employment but was abruptly informed of the organization's shutdown in November 2022. Despite assurances that operations would continue through the 2022-23 season, performances were halted after January 2023 due to alleged financial mismanagement and strategic moves by the defendants.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for unpaid wages totaling over $100,000 under his employment agreements and additional damages for lost future opportunities.
Stafford also accuses the defendants of engaging in unfair competition practices aimed at taking over the Philly POPS' business.
Jonathan Zakheim of Astor Weiss Kaplan & Mandel represents Stafford.