Hey guys, crack open a Coke and cook a bag of microwave popcorn because it's time for another installment of the John Rich and Jared Ashley story.
Today's chapter includes hush money, illegal legal advice, and secret audio tapings.
Makes it sound interesting does't it?
Anyway, John Rich had a settlement hearing on Wednesday (or Thursday depending on what story you read) to try and get the Jared Ashley lawsuit settled. I figured that was the end of the story - Jared would get his money and John would once again be free to terrorize bar patrons.
Boy was I wrong.
Christina sent me this interesting little link to a story on WSMV's website about the fact that they had obtained some new audio of conversations between John's manager and Jared Ashley that reportedly show John's manager offering cash to make the lawsuit go away.
Isn't it illegal to record phone conversations without consent?
Well because of these conversations, John Rich's manager and lawyers are now in hot water. it's being alleged that John Rich's manager illegally offered legal advice in an attempt to get Jared to settle his lawsuit. According to Tennessee state law, it is a misdemeanor for a person to conduct settlement negotiations on behalf of a third party if they are not licensed to practice law.
Oops. Bad manager....bad, bad manager.
Jared's attorney filed a motion to get rid of John's attorneys, claiming they illegally tried to bribe his client to take a deal through a third party.
Here's part of the conversations from WSMV:
"I would like to see if I could work out some sort of settlement with you guys, and I think I can get John to play ball, too, because he's getting pretty tired of it as well," said Rich's manager Marc Oswald, who isn't a licensed attorney, on the audio recording.
The audio recordings are supposedly a conversation between Oswald and Ashley on May 22. The recordings are edited. Ashley never speaks.
"One thing about the music business, country music business in particular, is, you know, as long as you're not a child rapist or gay, you can get away with a lot … You know what I mean?" said Oswald on the tape.
"I would say, dude, if this guy is ready to back off and ready to write a check for aggravation and by doing so, it's over and you can feel like you accomplished a lot, I would do it," Oswald said. "If I can agree with you on the number and he drops his and you drop yours and you call the detective, we could be done with this today."
Oswald said he did meet with Ashley and his attorney over the Memorial Day weekend.
"For a manager of a musical artist to sit with somebody on a matter like this and say it is possible to resolve it, I would think would be in everybody's best interest rather than burning up the time of the court system," said Oswald on the audio tape.
Such a tangled web we weave. Honestly, isn't it sort of the manager's job to make things go away and keep his artist's name as clean as possible? Can't say that the manager trying to make this go away is all that surprising.
John's trial for the assault is set for October. Wonder what the next chapter in this messy story will be.
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Posted by: True Religion Jeans Outlet | June 20, 2011 at 02:49 AM
tisk tisk...i agree with Chucky, though John can be a peehole, jared is awfully shady in my view. Now what is left when these two go to court will be messed up. And Chuck is right, if John wins it will only release the lion from the cage. If Jared wins well he's just gonna have to win the fans over really cause in the end your fans can make or break you. But taping and bribery...their playing with the Big Boys now. And it ain't gonna be pretty. If the pot was for 2.9 mil...its gonna be for more by October
Posted by: Amy | June 22, 2009 at 09:09 PM
ahhh....yes, but I knew he wouldn't last with Lonestar. He wanted to be front and center instead of Richie and it got him fired. Anyway, I'd never heard of Jared Ashley before all of this.
Posted by: Chris | June 21, 2009 at 06:59 AM
TWO Points of Fact:
John Rich was KICKED out of Lonestar on their rise for being an ego-maniacal douchbag.
Jared Ashley, when kicked off Nashville Star, stated he didn't need the show anyway...that he already did 200 dates a year with his band before hand.
Let's face it people, these two deserve to be just put in a ring together to settle this...All it is about is bragging rights anyway.
If Jared (who is already tained meat in Nashville and was LONG before this BS) comes out the winner, may he get a record deal with any obvious sinking single that will go along with it.
Should John Rich win, he will continue to be a bully, controlling idiot.
As a side note....Anyone really heard from the whole MUSIK MAFIA hype since John Rich took off?? The only reason we heard from Gretchen is cause she hit before John and Big Kenny.
Heard from any other MUSIK MAFIA folks??
Answer;.......NONE!!!
Sad really.
Posted by: Charles Murphy | June 21, 2009 at 03:54 AM
How long before John is damaged goods and nobody will have anything to do with him? If he would just admit he was wrong and show a little remorse maybe he could brush it off eventually. How can he say he's innocent when there are tapes and recordings? Just admit your mistakes and move on. Either way he will end up paying for it.
He's branding himself as a violent drunk who thinks he is above the law and doesn't have to accept any reprimand for his behavior. It doesn't matter how talented he is, if he continues to act this way artists will find other songwriters, and the fans will be fed up with him. And that will be the end of John Rich.
His manager should know better than to get involved. That should be left to the legal experts. He's just making things worse. And I'm sure it will get alot worse before the end.
Posted by: marie | June 20, 2009 at 06:02 PM
He made a comment about getting away with alot in country music that is BS to me.When are people going to learn to get along? John has worked hard, but he is the one that is wasting it all away!
Posted by: Jeannie | June 20, 2009 at 03:17 PM
Okay...sorry Glory, but I'm feeling frustrated...LOL! I know you are a fan of JR's, I've seen your posts. If Jared did illegally record someone, maybe he felt he had to, he doesn't have JR's money, manager, or lawyers. Perhaps that wouldn't make it right, but I can see why he would. Jared maybe wrong, but John is definately wrong. Peace? I'm just really upset with John, I feel like he's ruining his chances. I know that he's always wanted this career.
Posted by: Chris | June 20, 2009 at 02:01 PM
I only said they are both wrong, Jared Ashley illegally recording someone is not right either. Defending John Rich, maybe, both are wrong.!
Posted by: glory2001 | June 20, 2009 at 01:40 PM
Oh and BTW, the only one "destroying lives" here is John Rich. He brought this on himself. Pay the piper.
Posted by: Chris | June 20, 2009 at 12:38 PM
It's way more than a shove and accused punch. John Rich harassed this guy for months and months. He has been intimidating him and threatening him, and getting others to join in on it all, topping it all off with LYING about it!
Glory2001, you always defend John. Do you really think this is about publicity? John WISHES this was about publicity! I've never been so turned off by anybody and I use to try to like this guy! I bet JR's manager would love for all this to go away, LOL!
Posted by: Chris | June 20, 2009 at 12:36 PM
So, because of a shove and a accused punch, Jared Ashley is so driven to get publicity, he is willing to destroy everyone's lives, including his own reputation, even resorting to illegal recordings. This is a small matter driven to all excess. If not stopped pretty soon, this could lead to "nothing good" They both need to put on the big boy pants and walk away, and let it go!!! Sheesh.
Posted by: glory2001 | June 20, 2009 at 12:25 PM