From yesterday's decision by Judge Henry Edward Autrey (E.D. Mo.) in Eames v. NILE, the plaintiff's allegations (which at this point are of course just allegations):
Defendant NILE is a death metal band founded in 1993 that has released twelve (12) Albums, the most recent of which, "The Underworld Awaits Us All", was released August 23, 2024.
Eames was a member of the band NILE from mid-2021 until October 26, 2023. Eames toured with NILE from mid-2021 to November 2022, performed guitar and vocals stage left, and was paid $700/week.
In November 2022, Eames agreement with NILE was modified by mutual agreement. Pursuant to the new terms, Eames was moved to stage-front center, performed as the Frontman, main-vocalist, and guitarist for NILE, and Eames was to perform on NILE's new album "The Underworld Awaits Us All" ("Underworld") with the album recording to take place during the ensuing year….
As a member of NILE and pursuant to the Agreement, in exchange for his performance and collaboration on NILE's Underworld album, Eames was to perform on NILE's Underworld tours as a member of NILE following the album's release until October 11, 2025 (the last scheduled tour date). In exchange for his performance of the Agreement, Eames was to receive: 1) Tour compensation of $850.00/week on a weekly basis for the duration of the Underworld Tour; 2) 1/3 of NILE's net revenue from the release of the album and sales; 3) 1/3 of NILE's net royalties on future uses of the album, album streaming, and merchandise sales; and 4) 1/3 of NILE's net endorsement and advertising revenue….
On October 23, 2023, a fake article was posted on internet websites Medium.com and NewsBreak.com which falsely stated that Eames had been "criminally charged in Moberly, Randolph County. MO, with multiple counts of battery and sexual assault, claiming authorities were notified of the crimes and that multiple women, including a minor, had reported years of domestic violence and abuse" ("Posts"). The articles included Eames name and a photo of Eames credited to MO Newsdesk 13 (a local cable news affiliate) and was created to appear to be an official press release.
The claims in these articles are completely false and Eames has never been criminally charged with battery, sexual assault, domestic violence/abuse, or minor abuse. The articles were falsely published under the identity of a Missouri based author and self-proclaimed domestic violence advocate and survivor; the actual identity of the Posts' creators remains unknown. Contacting the purported author would have quickly revealed she had no involvement in the posts and would have revealed the deceitful, deceptive, and fraudulent intention of the Posts. NILE acknowledged the falsity of the Posts in communications with Eames.
On October 24, 2023, Eames discussed these fake Posts and false statements with NILE and assured them they were completely false and were nothing more than a smear campaign against him. NILE acknowledged Eames' innocence and assured him they knew the Posts were false and a smear campaign.
On October 26, 2024, NILE announced the band and touring lineup for its Underworld album and tours omitting Eames. An October 26, 2024, article announcing the lineup posted on Metal Insider (a prominent online heavy metal publication) indicated that Eames was surprisingly omitted from the NILE Underworld lineup and included a link to the false Posts on Medium.com and Newsbreak.com.
NILE has at all times relevant, failed to pay Eames 1/3 of net revenue from the Underworld album release and album sales, 1/3 of net royalties on future uses of the Underworld album, album streaming, and merchandise sales, and 1/3 of NILE's net endorsement and advertising revenues related to the Underworld album.
