Garbage Takes Longer In Turkish Courts

U.S. rock band Garbage’s legal battle over unpaid fees from Rock Istanbul 2005 looks as if it’s going to take just as long as a similar action being brought by Megadeth.

Both bands are seeking the balance of the fees from TicketTurk, the country’s second-largest agency behind the Ticketmaster-owned Biletix. TicketTurk denies it has any responsibility to pay.

The case hinges on whether two letters apparently signed by TicketTurk managing director Gulseren Onanc, which both undertake to settle the outstanding money owed to the two acts is "irrevocably and unconditionally" a pledge made under Turkish law.

Savas Inandioglu, the lawyer acting for Megadeth and Garbage, insists that is and that TicketTurk should stump up the money.

The ticketing company appeared to step in to settle the date after Rock Istanbul 2005 organiser Boray Dundar had failed to pay the full fees and had become the subject of distraint of goods actions from the Istanbul-based Charmenko, the agency that booked both bands to the festival.

The judge in the February 2nd Garbage hearing at the city’s commercial court went much the same way as the December 6th Megadeth case, with the judge adjourning until he could sift through advice from an accountant to assess the debt and a legal expert to examine the ticketing company’s obligation to pay it.

The case is due back in the commercial court April 16, while the next Megadeth hearing comes up March 7th.