{
  "id": 593293,
  "title": "Levon Helm Studios Sues Levon’s Daughter, Amy Helm",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/levon-helm-studios-sues-levons-daughter-amy-helm",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-11T18:59:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Pitchfork",
    "slug": "pitchfork",
    "url": "https://pitchfork.com/story/levon-helm-studios-sues-amy-helm/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Amy Helm, the daughter of the late Band member Levon Helm, faces legal action from Levon Helm Studios (LHS) over a range of allegations, including self-dealing, trademark infringement, and causing $2 million in damages. According to a 61-page complaint filed in federal court on August 10, Amy allegedly charged $400,000 to the studio for personal expenses and took an additional $200,000 from the Levon Helm Estate. The suit further claims that Amy trademarked the name Midnight Ramble, originally a concert series hosted by Levon Helm at LHS, and diverted the revenue into her own company. Amy's representatives have declined to comment on the matter. This lawsuit follows an ongoing dispute involving Amy, her stepmother and Levon's widow Sandra Helm, and two other LHS shareholders. In May, Amy was removed as president of LHS due to alleged mismanagement. Amy subsequently accused Brian Parillo, a shareholder, of financial exploitation and elder abuse of Sandra in a court filing, which Parillo denied. Following Amy's removal, police were called to the Barn in Woodstock due to an alleged physical dispute between Parillo and Amy, though no charges were filed. Sandra Helm responded to Amy's claims, stating that she did not agree with the portrayal of Parillo as a \"puppet master or Svengali\" who overtook her mind and that she simply wanted to restructure Levon Helm Studios to bring it back to its previous glory.",
  "summary": "The lawsuit claims the singer-songwriter engaged in self-dealing and cost the company at least $2 million in damages",
  "key_points": [
    "Amy Helm sued Levon Helm Studios for $2 million in damages.",
    "Allegations include self-dealing, trademark infringement.",
    "Amy trademarked Midnight Ramble, diverted revenue to her company."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}