A New York Supreme Court judge dismissed the $6 million lawsuit against Vybz Kartel over his US concert bookings on March 3, 2026, ending the case with prejudice and permanently barring the plaintiffs from refiling the same claims. Justice Brendan T. Lantry issued the ruling. The court papers obtained by DancehallMag did not state the specific reasoning behind the decision.1DancehallMag. Judge Tosses Lawsuit Against Vybz Kartel Over US Shows, O-1B Visa
What a Dismissal With Prejudice Means Here
A dismissal with prejudice is treated as a final judgment on the merits. The plaintiffs cannot bring the same claims against the same defendants again in that court.2Cornell Law Institute. With Prejudice Under New York law, the paths forward for Karen Soltau-Mutebi and The Conglomerate Group Inc. narrow to two: file an appeal within 30 days, or, in limited circumstances, pursue a legal malpractice claim against their own counsel.
Kadian Townsend of The Townsend Law Firm, who represented Kartel, said the ruling prevented potential financial and professional fallout for the artist, including the risk of halted performances or frozen concert revenue.3Jamaica Observer. Townsend Law Firm Secures Major Win for Vybz Kartel in NY Supreme Court
What the Plaintiffs Were Claiming
Soltau-Mutebi and her company filed the suit on July 2, 2025, in Kings County Supreme Court, naming concert promoter Cassandra Johnson (also known as CJ Milan), her companies Epic League Events and Reggae Fest, and Kartel himself, whose legal name is Adidja Palmer.4Caribbean National Weekly. US$6M Lawsuit Tied to Vybz Kartel’s US Concerts Dismissed in New York They sought $4 million in compensatory damages, $2 million in punitive damages, and proceeds from concerts they alleged were staged without their authorization.1DancehallMag. Judge Tosses Lawsuit Against Vybz Kartel Over US Shows, O-1B Visa The causes of action included tortious interference with business relationships, defamation, unjust enrichment, and misappropriation of business opportunities.
The core of the dispute was Kartel’s O-1B visa, a category for individuals with extraordinary ability in the arts, issued to him for three years on January 29, 2025. The plaintiffs said they funded and facilitated the visa petition, and that the visa itself carried a clearance annotation naming their company. Court exhibits they filed supported that annotation claim. On that basis they argued they held exclusive rights to promote all of Kartel’s US engagements through January 2028, entitling them to between 5 and 25 percent of gross proceeds and authorization to negotiate branding, merchandising, and a life-story documentary.1DancehallMag. Judge Tosses Lawsuit Against Vybz Kartel Over US Shows, O-1B Visa
The plaintiffs acknowledged that Johnson had initially helped promote Kartel’s two sold-out Barclays Center concerts on April 11 and 12, 2025, with their consent.5World Music Views. Vybz Kartel Concert Lawsuit in New York Dismissed by Judge With Prejudice A dispute over those shows arose but was later settled with payment to the plaintiffs. The relationship broke down, according to the complaint, when Johnson began booking additional concerts without the plaintiffs’ involvement or revenue sharing. The suit cited three specific dates: State Farm Arena in Atlanta on June 6, 2025; Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on June 14, 2025; and CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore on July 26, 2025. The defamation claim alleged that Johnson told venue operators the plaintiffs were “attempting to harm the artist’s immigration status.”1DancehallMag. Judge Tosses Lawsuit Against Vybz Kartel Over US Shows, O-1B Visa
How the Case Moved Through Court
The matter was initially assigned to Judge Richard Velasquez in Kings County. In September 2025, the court granted a motion to change venue, and the injunction requests the plaintiffs had filed were either withdrawn or closed.6Unicourt. Soltau-Mutebi, Karen et al vs. Johnson, Cassandra The case never reached trial. Justice Lantry entered the dismissal roughly eight months after the complaint was filed.
A Separate Suit in Trinidad Is Still Open
The New York ruling does not resolve every legal claim connected to Kartel’s return to touring. On January 13, 2026, Trinidad-based promoter Jacho Entertainment Ltd. filed a separate breach-of-contract suit against him in the High Court of Justice of Trinidad and Tobago over a cancelled performance at the One Caribbean Music Festival in Port of Spain.7Newsday Trinidad and Tobago. Promoter Sues Vybz Kartel Over Cancelled Trinidad Festival
The show was originally scheduled for February 28, 2025, then rescheduled to May 31, 2025. Jacho alleged it signed a contract on November 22, 2024, to pay Kartel a total performance fee of $1.35 million and had already paid $1.1 million before the artist failed to board his flight on May 30, 2025. The promoter said Kartel’s management demanded full payment before travel, a condition Jacho claimed was not in the original agreement.7Newsday Trinidad and Tobago. Promoter Sues Vybz Kartel Over Cancelled Trinidad Festival The suit also includes defamation claims tied to social media posts the promoter says falsely blamed it for the cancellation.8Trinidad Guardian. Promoter Takes Legal Action Against Vybz Kartel for Failed Concert Jacho is seeking the return of the $1.1 million plus more than TT$7.3 million in damages tied to staging, production, and marketing. As of mid-2026, no defense had been filed, and Kartel had indicated through social media that he would not comment publicly while the matter is before the court.9Irie FM. One Caribbean Music Festival