Earlier this year, Brian Parillo took over Levon Helm studios, pushing out Amy Helm and suing her for alleged self-dealing. The iconic Woodstock venue named after the late drummer of the Band has been struggling to issue refunds to concertgoers for shows that've been canceled by artists in support of Amy Helm. Now, she's countersuing, accusing Parillo of using invalid corporate actions to seize control of Levon Helm studios and improperly obtaining voting power from the late drummer's widow.
When Levon Helm's passed away in 2012, his daughter Amy Helm and her stepmother Sandra Helm each received 40% control over the studio, with Brian Parillo and Barbara O'Brien, two of Levon's friends, each getting 10%. Amy Helm says Parillo claims voting assignments from Sandra Helm and O’Brien, giving him purported control of 60% of the company's voting power despite owning just 10% of its shares. She's accusing him of withholding financial records from stakeholders and engaging in malfeasance, according to the Times Union.
Last year, Parillo allegedly obtained Sandra Helm's signature on a shareholder consent purporting to remove Amy Helm as a director. Sandra Helm, who is in her 70s, then signed a different document, acting as the company's purported sole director, removing Amy Helm as president. This past May, he allegedly acquired Sandra Helm's signature on another shareholder consent purporting to remove her as the company's sole director and install him in her place. He then signed a board consent that made him president, secretary, and treasurer and stating that no one else had authority to act for the company.
Sandra Helm allegedly told the company's lawyers she wanted to revoke her support for Parillo. Four days later, he obtained a document purporting to transfer to him the right to vote her shares. Amy Helm's attorneys claim that the company's governing documents and state law required unanimous written consent for the actions taken without a meeting.
Amy Helm accuses Parillo of exercising "undue influence" over Sandra Helm, whom she says is a vulnerable person unable to understand the nature and consequences of those documents. In a separate dispute over the estate, Amy Helm said Sandra Helm told her that Parillo had "conned" her and that he and his lawyers "just keep getting in my head."
Parillo allegedly told Sandra Helm he had a plan to force Amy Helm to buy the company back from him for $5 million and that Sandra Helm would be "set for life." Parillo denies the allegations.
In July, Ulster County Surrogate's Court appointed a guardian ad litem for Sandra Helm in the estate proceeding. The court described her as "a person under disability" and directed the guardian to report on her ability to partake in the case. Last week, the guardian ad litem reported that he didn't understand why Sandra Helm had transferred her voting rights to Parillo or whether she fully appreciated the legal and practical consequences. He suggested that she receive a clear explanation of the transfer and its alternatives, with her reasons explored without pressure from interested parties.
He also communicated concern that Sandra Helm retained the economic interest in her shares while transferring the right to vote them, which could impact her ability to participate in company decisions. The guardian had not independently determined the validity or effect of the voting assignment. The guardian did not recommend finding that she was unable to participate in the estate proceeding.
Parillo is also being accused of utilizing company resources to pursue federal litigation and that his attorneys threatened Amy Helm's career. In a June 5 email, attorney Zachary Bohlender warned that "(w)e can make Amy radioactive" and reduce her "career as a touring musician" to "smoking ruins." Amy Helm was slated to play The Barn the next day, but Parillo allegedly changed the locks. Through his attorneys, he allegedly demanded that she not contact her stepmother, not enter the premises, and inform employees that Parillo controlled the company. Amy Helm did not respond and Parillo canceled the show, citing a family emergency. The cancellation allegedly deprived the company of income and alleges that Parillo's attorneys threatened Amy Helm with a lawsuit if she disclosed the reason.
In addition, the lawsuit accuses Parillo of using Levon Helm's name, image, and likeness without authorization from the estate.