A D.C. court ruled the Kennedy Center must cover Chuck Redd’s $252,479.70 in legal costs after dismissing its breach-of-contract suit against him — a case the judge linked to political retribution.
The Kennedy Center will have to pay more than a quarter of a million dollars to cover the legal fees of jazz vibraphonist Chuck Redd, following a lawsuit the institution lost. On Monday, D.C. Superior Court Judge Tanya Jones Bosier granted Redd’s motion, awarding him $252,479.70 after the Kennedy Center’s breach-of-contract claim was thrown out last June.
The suit stemmed from Redd’s decision to cancel his longstanding Christmas Eve Jazz Jam at the venue in late 2025. He was one of several musicians who pulled out after the board — reshaped by President Trump — voted to add his name to the building. Then-Kennedy Center president Richard Grenell threatened a million-dollar suit, and a formal complaint followed in March.
Judge Jones Bosier dismissed the case because Redd hadn’t signed a contract for that year’s performance, and she cited D.C.’s Anti-SLAPP laws, which guard against meritless litigation meant to silence opposition. Redd’s attorney, Lisa J. Banks, called the original suit “baseless and politically motivated,” and noted the fee ruling affirms that private citizens shouldn’t shoulder the cost of such government-led legal pressure.
Join the Club
Like this story? You’ll love our monthly newsletter.
Thank you for subscribing to the newsletter.
Oops. Something went wrong. Please try again later.
ROMBO Editorial Staff
The collective voice behind ROMBO Magazine’s news, reviews, features, and cultural coverage.
