Dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel has scored a decisive legal victory in the United States after a New York Supreme Court judge dismissed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit that threatened his performing rights and touring business. The ruling, delivered on March 3, clears the Grammy-nominated artiste to continue staging shows across the U.S., removing a major legal cloud that had loomed over his post-prison comeback and expanding global tour schedule.
The case, filed in July 2025 by Karen Soltau-Mutebi and her company The Conglomerate Group Inc., centred on Kartel’s three-year O-1B visa issued on January 29, 2025. The visa is reserved for individuals with extraordinary ability in the arts. Soltau-Mutebi claimed her company funded and facilitated the visa petition and therefore held exclusive rights to promote Kartel’s U.S. engagements through January 2028. According to court filings, the company argued it was entitled to between 5 and 25% of gross proceeds from Kartel’s American shows, as well as rights to negotiate branding, merchandising deals, and a documentary project about the deejay’s life.
The lawsuit also accused promoter Cassandra Johnson of Epic League Events and Reggae Fest of bypassing Conglomerate and organising Kartel’s major U.S. concerts without authorisation. These included his historic Barclays Center performances in April 2025 — his first U.S. shows in more than two decades — along with later dates in Atlanta, Atlantic City and Baltimore. The plaintiffs sought US$4 million in compensatory damages, US$2 million in punitive damages, and proceeds from the disputed events.
However, attorneys from Townsend Law Firm secured a dismissal with prejudice, meaning the plaintiffs are permanently barred from refiling the case. Lead attorney Kadian Townsend described the ruling as both a personal and professional milestone. “This victory further cements the Firm’s reputation as an emerging force in the entertainment law arena,” she said, noting that the decision prevents serious financial and professional ripple effects for the artiste.
For Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, the outcome removes a potentially damaging obstacle as he continues to rebuild his global brand following his long-awaited return to international stages. With the lawsuit now firmly behind him, the dancehall icon can refocus on performing, touring and expanding his presence in the lucrative U.S. entertainment market.
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