Accused Fight Hoedown Lawsuits

Denis Benoit, president of Concert International, has filed $250,000 libel lawsuits against musician Lefty McRighty and promoter Jeffrey Brunet.

Benoit’s festival, to take place in 2012 and featuring acts like Brad Paisley and Taylor Swift, never came to fruition after Benoit couldn’t find a venue and several of the headliners dropped out.

Lefty McRighty, real name Greg Harris, blogged about Benoit and his lack of success but has removed the posts, claiming every word was factually based but removed the posts until legal action was finished.

Benoit claims in the lawsuit that the posts were “scathing.”

Meanwhile, Brunet told the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder that he cautioned booking agents about Benoit, telling them, “Google his name and see what comes up.”

Brunet said in his recent statement of defense he “has never slandered Denis Benoit and has advised people when questioned about him to conduct an Internet search of his name or to conduct their own inquiry based upon all available information,” according to the Ottawa Sun.

Harris has filed a notice of intent to defend – a “bare bones document” that signals he plans to defend his case but does not outline his grounds, according to the Sun. Harris held a fundraising concert called “Capital SuperSuccessFest” at the city’s Rainbow Bistro April 3.