Chance the Rapper Wins $1.5M Judgment Against Ex-Manager

Chance the Rapper, also known as Chancelor Bennett, has won a substantial financial judgment of approximately $1.5 million in his legal dispute with former manager Pat Corcoran. This ruling follows a May mini-trial before Judge James E. Hanlon Jr., where Corcoran was found to have breached his fiduciary duties. The court determined that Corcoran improperly demanded side payments from merchandise vendors without the rapper's consent. As a result, Corcoran must forfeit these "secret profits" and return all 15% commissions he received from merchandise sales. A follow-up conference in late November will finalize the exact amount.

This legal battle, initiated by Corcoran in 2020, stemmed from his lawsuit claiming nearly $4 million in unpaid commissions. Chance countersued, alleging Corcoran exploited opportunities for personal gain. Notably, their partnership lacked a written contract, operating solely on a handshake agreement. A previous jury trial in March had rejected Corcoran's claims and awarded Chance only $35, setting the stage for this subsequent ruling. Judge Hanlon acknowledged Corcoran's past valuable work but emphasized that his fiduciary duties were limited to music, touring, and merchandise, not unrelated investments.