TED NUGENT Planning To Appeal Court Victory, Seek More Damages

Launch Radio Networks is reporting that Ted Nugent plans to appeal last week's court victory in Michigan. A jury ruled that the Muskegon Summer Celebration must pay Nugent $100,000 for breaching a contract in June of 2003, with $80,000 for the contracted fee and $20,000 for missed merchandise sales. However, Nugent's camp, which sought $1 million, is complaining that Circuit Court Judge Timothy G. Hicks erred by putting a cap on the maximum award Nugent can receive. They will also base their appeal on the fact that Hicks is a former law partner of Christopher Kelly, a Muskegon attorney who is a board member of the Muskegon Summer Celebration.

Nugent's attorney, Cindy Rhodes Victor, had previously asked Hicks to step down because of that conflict of interest. Hicks refused the request.

Nugent is seeking the additional damages based on what he claims was lost income from the Muskegon cancellation. The festival called off his appearance after he was accused of making racist remarks on a Denver radio station in May of 2003. Nugent has said that reports of the interview, in which he used several racial slurs, were taken out of context. He claims the Muskegon cancellation cost him other appearances that were being negotiated at the time.

Nugent called the Muskegon ruling a "hollow victory." He previously told Launch that he never feels a need to apologize for his flamboyant outspokenness, no matter what the consequences: "Isn't that fascinating that that kind of political bias just rears its ugly head, especially to this right winger? And I couldn't be more proud. It's not like they're gonna stop me. They're just gonna lose a No. 1 show. It's just amazing. I mean, I'd just rather they shut up and be greedy."

Nugent is busy lining up summer dates but so far only has one, on August 26 at Ohio's Sandusky County Fair, on his itinerary.