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Sly Stone awarded $5 million in lawsuit against former manager and attorney

"They just wanted to punch this poor guy in the face," says Stone's attorney.

By Matt Bradwell
Sly Stone, frontman of the group Sly and the Family Stone. UPI Photo/David Silpa
1 of 3 | Sly Stone, frontman of the group Sly and the Family Stone. UPI Photo/David Silpa | License Photo

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone was awarded $5 million from a former manager and attorney who were diverting royalties owed to the legendary funk singer.

In 2010, Stone filed suit against former manager Gerald Goldstein and attorney Glenn Stone, claiming the pair coerced Stone to sign a shareholder agreement with Even Street Productions and subsiquently used the agreement to funnel Stone's royalties into their own pockets.

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"It was a classic case of Hollywood accounting, but I guess it would have to be called record industry accounting," Nick Hornberger, the lead attorney for Stone, described to Variety, adding the jury "sent a very clear message."

Stone's financial situation was so precarious, in 2009 the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was effectively homeless, living out of a white camper van. The camper would prove to be Stone's home for at least two more years.

"They just wanted to punch this poor guy in the face," Hornberger told Yahoo! Music.

Despite the winnings, the Los Angeles jury awarded Stone significantly less than the $50 million he initially sought from his former partners.

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