Amy Helm Files Lawsuit Challenging Levon Helm Studios Management

Amy Helm is asking a New York court to restore her leadership role at Levon Helm Studios, the Woodstock concert business established by her late father, Levon Helm. Her lawsuit challenges the management changes that put shareholder Brian Parillo in charge and his authority to have the company sue her in federal court.

As reported by The Overlook, the complaint was filed October 16 in state Supreme Court in Ulster County. Helm seeks reinstatement as president and a director, Parillo’s removal from management, unspecified damages and an accounting of his management of the business.

Amy Helm and her stepmother, Levon’s widow Sandra Helm, each own 40% of the company, while Parillo and former manager Barbara O’Brien each own 10%. According to the complaint, Parillo claims voting rights assigned by Sandra Helm and O’Brien give him control of 60% of the company’s votes.

Helm’s attorneys argue that the written consents used to change the company’s leadership were invalid because such actions required every voting shareholder’s written approval when taken without a meeting. Helm says she never signed the documents and no shareholder meeting was held. Her complaint also alleges that Parillo used undue influence to obtain Sandra Helm’s cooperation.

“I disagree with Amy’s complaint, and I’ll respond to it in court,” Parillo told the Times Union. Parillo has previously denied exploiting or manipulating Sandra Helm. A court-appointed guardian representing Sandra in a separate estate proceeding questioned the voting-rights transfer but did not recommend finding her unable to participate in that case, according to the reports.

Sandra Helm previously denied being manipulated. “I just wanted to restructure Levon Helm Studios and bring it back to the glory days. And it’s as simple as that,” she told The Overlook this summer.

The Overlook also reported that exhibits include a June 5 email from studio attorney Zachary Bohlender threatening Amy’s career. “We can make Amy radioactive,” Bohlender wrote. Helm’s complaint alleges that company resources were used to threaten her and pursue litigation without proper authorization.

The new state lawsuit follows the studio’s August 10 federal suit against Helm and seven other defendants. That complaint alleges misuse of company funds, infringement of the Midnight Ramble trademark and at least $2 million in damages. Helm denied the allegations when the federal case was filed.

The dispute became public this summer when Helm addressed the postponement of two August Helm Family Midnight Rambles. She said that she and longtime core staff were no longer involved in the studio’s decisions.

Levon Helm, the drummer and singer for The Band, began hosting Midnight Rambles at his Woodstock home and recording studio in 2004. Amy performed in her father’s Midnight Ramble House Band, and concerts at the venue known as the Barn continued after his death in 2012.