Levon Helm Studios has filed a federal lawsuit against Amy Helm, the daughter of the late Band drummer and singer. The legal action alleges that the singer-songwriter engaged in self-dealing and mismanagement, resulting in at least $2 million in damages to the studio, often referred to as The Barn.
The 61-page complaint details accusations that Amy Helm charged $400,000 in personal expenses to the studio's accounts. It also claims she diverted $200,000 from the Levon Helm Estate, specifically from an LLC responsible for distributing royalty payments for her father’s final albums. These actions reportedly prevented the estate from paying contractors and collaborators involved in those musical projects.
Beyond financial claims, the lawsuit addresses trademark disputes. The studio alleges that Amy Helm created a competing trademark, Helm Family Midnight Ramble, to divert revenue from the original Midnight Ramble concert series her father founded. The studio claims she redirected these funds to her own business interests instead of the established venue.
This litigation represents an escalation in a conflict that surfaced earlier this year. Amy Helm was removed as president of the studio in May by a board consisting of Sandra Helm, the widow of Levon Helm, and shareholders Brian Parillo and Barbara O’Brien. Following her removal, Amy Helm filed a counter-accusation alleging that Brian Parillo engaged in financial exploitation and elder abuse regarding Sandra Helm, charges which Parillo denies. Police were previously involved at the Woodstock property following a physical altercation involving the parties, though no charges resulted from that event.
Representatives for Levon Helm Studios initiated this court filing to address these allegations. A representative for Amy Helm declined to comment on the matter.