Chance The Rapper has reportedly secured a major legal victory, winning a $1.5 million judgment in a second trial against his former manager. This latest development marks a significant milestone in the ongoing legal battle between the Chicago artist and his former representative, Pat Corcoran, also known as Pat the Manager.
According to a report by Billboard, Judge James E. Hanlon Jr. ruled on Tuesday (Oct. 13) that Corcoran breached his fiduciary responsibilities to Chance The Rapper. The court determined that Corcoran had secretly required side payments from merchandise vendors during his tenure. As a result, the judge has ordered Corcoran to surrender these “secret funds” and provide a refund for the 15% commissions he collected on merchandise sales during that period.
A Decisive Legal Ruling
In his written opinion, Judge Hanlon emphasized the necessity of accountability, noting that the trial exhibits provided a clear path for calculating the owed figures. The judge stated, “If the records leave a real doubt about whether a given payment related to Bennett’s orders, the court will resolve the doubt against Corcoran, whose company kept those records and took the payments.”
This ruling follows a previous legal encounter in March, where a Cook County, Ill., jury found in favor of the rapper regarding a $3.8 million lawsuit filed by Corcoran. In that initial case, Corcoran had sought damages for unpaid commissions and managerial work, but the jury ultimately awarded the artist a nominal $35 for breach of contract and tortious interference.
Attorney Statement and Future Implications
Following the latest court decision, Precious S. Jacobs of the Jenner & Block law firm, representing Chance, issued a statement to XXL. “We are pleased with the Court’s thorough and thoughtful opinion that confirms what Chance has maintained from day one: that Patrick Corcoran owed him fiduciary duties while he was serving as Chance’s manager and that he violated those duties in multiple ways over an extended period,” the statement read.
The legal team highlighted the broader significance of the ruling, noting that it serves as a precedent for the industry. “The Court’s current ruling is significant for many reasons, including because it is the first decision to confirm that a manager who represents an artist is a fiduciary and owes the artist fiduciary duties,” the statement continued.
A status hearing is currently scheduled for Nov. 30, 2026, to finalize the specific figures of the judgment. Additionally, the court has ordered Corcoran to surrender the ChanceRaps.com domain name to the artist, potentially concluding a long-standing dispute over the management of the rapper’s business affairs.
