Coliseum Case Could Be Dismissed

The district attorney’s office last year accused Rotella, along with another electronic dance music promoter, of participating in a financial scheme in which former Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum officials diverted revenue from the state-owned venue through side deals with the EDM companies.

Attorneys for Rotella noted in their motion to dismiss that the case represents an “unprecedented misapplication of embezzlement law,” according to court documents.

Specifically, while prosecutors have alleged side payments helped Rotella guarantee the use of the Coliseum, the motion contends he already had a $25,000-per-show agreement in place with the venue.

And the money paid to the Coliseum’s former events manager was for “honest services outside the scope of his duties,” the motion continues.

The D.A.’s office maintains the side payments were made so the promoters could continue to host events at the venue following the overdose death of a 15-year-old girl at Insomniac’s Electric Daisy Carnival in 2010, LA Weekly reported.