Daryl Hall Sues John Oates-Celebrity Lawyer Explains

Celebrity lawyer Christopher C. Melcher, who is ranked as a best family law attorney in CA, explains why Daryl Hall is suing John Oates on Good Morning America.

Daryl Hall and John Oates going head to head in a new lawsuit. The duo collaborated on a string of classic hits throughout the ’70s and ’80s, but now Hall is suing Oats, even filing a temporary restraining order.

To music fans, fans of Hall and Oats, they’re like the musical version of peanut butter and jelly. They should always be together, but it seems like now Daryl Hall and John Oats may have lost that loving feeling. This morning, one-half of one of the biggest duos in pop music history, saying when it comes to his other half performing their hit songs without him, well, he won’t go for that. Darryl Hall of the Grammy-nominated Hall and Oats suing his former musical brother, John Oats.

Why Hall is Suing Oates

Most details are sealed, but the case type, as filed in Nashville Court, lists contract/debt and reportedly involves a dispute over the division of royalties and or over Oats performing some of their biggest hit solo on tour. Songs like “Maneater,” and “Out of Touch.”

“Well, if people collaborate in a band, the name of the band itself is intellectual property. If they don’t have an agreement, then they can’t individually use the name of the brand without the permission of the other,” states celebrity lawyer and legal analyst Christopher C. Melcher of top family law firm Walzer Melcher Yoda LLP.

On top of that, Hall also requesting a temporary restraining order against Oats, which the judge has granted. The duo burst onto the scene in the 1970s for nearly 20 years, almost every one of their singles charting on the Billboard Hot 100.

They had six number ones and eight platinum albums and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

Conflict Between Hall & Oates

But despite success, the group was also plagued by constant reports of conflict and multiple hiatuses. Hall reminding reporters their official name is not Hall& Oates and appearing on a podcast with Bill Maher creating distance from his bandmate.

Their last studio album together was in 2006, but the pair continued to tour together, performing just last year. “It would be pretty difficult for these two to work together after this lawsuit,” explains top family law attorney Christopher C. Melcher.

We’ve reached out to Daryl Hall and John Oates’ joint management team. No comment yet. In that podcast interview, Hall did clarify he likes Oates. “Oh no, no, he said, I like John, we’re friends, we just have different directions,” says Daryl Hall.

Clearly, that’s playing out in the courts.