By: Las Vegas Now Staff
A famous Mexican musician was in a Las Vegas court room Tuesday, accused of breach of contract. Juan Gabriel is an international artist with a huge fan base.
A courtroom is not the venue fans are used to seeing Juan Gabriel at. But Tuesday, rather than taking the stage for a performance, the singer was here for allegations of costing a local promotion company more than $10 million in losses after he was a no-show at a concert.
Juan Gabriel is admired by fans from all over the world. His concerts sell out in minutes. But Tuesday, the Mexican icon was anything but performing on stage.
Maurice Rind was hired by a local promotion company for a Cinco de Mayo concert which he was suppose to headline but he never showed. “Just all of a sudden Mr. Gabriel isn't appearing. He isn't here.”
Gabriel sat and listened to Rind describe what happened the day of the concert.
“Did Juan Gabriel or his manager or his agent ever attempt to contact you as a managing producer of this event to try and work out any issues that he had with event?” asked Kevin Hanratty. He is the attorney representing the local promotion company, and says Gabriel has yet to give a reason for being a no show.
“We have never gotten an answer to that question. And he never even appeared for a staging of the event,” said Hanratty.
Promoters are seeking damages from expenses like a private plane to get Gabriel here from Mexico for the concert, to rooms at the Bellagio. Hanratty says they don't even think Gabriel was in Las Vegas during the time he was scheduled to perform.
“That is what we believe – that he was never in Las Vegas. We have requested copies of his passport documentation that he came in on any day prior to the event. They have been unable to produce that,” said Hanratty.
Juan Gabriel has not given a clear reason as to why he did not show up for the concert after he agreed to be here. The case is expected to wrap up on Friday. He has yet to take the stand but is expected sometime this week.
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