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Wednesday, March 27, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Jim Belushi Claims|Comedy Bar Stiffed Him

CHICAGO (CN) — Actor and comedian Jim Belushi has taken a comedy club to court, claiming it refused to pay a settlement on a prior lawsuit.

Belushi filed his initial complaint last June after talks with club owner Kyle Lane to license his "Belushi's Comedy Bar" trademark broke down. He sued The Comedy Bar Comedy Club and Lane for unjust enrichment, claiming Lane never paid him a percentage of the club's business for promotional services he provided.

Belushi also blamed Lane's "personal conduct" for the financial crisis the Comedy Bar faced.

According to Belushi's most recent complaint, filed Thursday, the parties held "a settlement conference to attempt to resolve the matter" on March 1, at which "Belushi and Lane had reached an understanding."

Although the settlement is confidential, Lane agreed to make payments to Belushi and his company, Bessie Blu, on the first of every month until 2024, beginning in April.

But Belushi says Lane has made no payments on the agreement so far. Belushi, who is represented by Pedersen & Houpt, is now suing The Comedy Bar and Lane for breach of contract.

Belushi also filed a separate defamation lawsuit last year against Lane's girlfriend Sahar Chavoshi, accusing her of calling him "a liar who has engaged in fraud" and saying she claimed "that he has lied to and manipulated comics who worked at 'Belushi's'- branded comedy bars."

That litigation is still ongoing.

The Comedy Bar has not responded to an email requesting comment from Courthouse News.

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