Eagle’s Don Henley Sued For $10 million In Stolen Lyrics Case

Don Henley, founding singer of the Eagles, is being sued for millions in a complex case about a stolen lyrics.

Henley and Eagles manager Irving Azoff are being sued for malicious prosecution, tortious interference, loss of services, and intentional infliction of emotional distress by one of three men who were charged in 2022 for stealing handwritten lyrics to the Eagles smash hit “Hotel California.”

Rare book dealer Glenn Horowitz — one of the three defendants along with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame curator Craig Inciardi and memorabilia auctioneer Edward Kosinski, were previously accused of stealing the lyrics.

Now, the three men are now claiming Henley and Azoff knew the lyrics sheets were legally obtained, yet they caused irreparable damages by going forward with the case which was ultimately dismissed.

“(Horowitz) is looking forward to his day in court,” his attorney Caitlin Robin told The Independent. “He already cleared his name when the charges against him were dismissed but it’s time to hold those responsible who were involved in his malicious prosecution.”

The complexity of the case dates back decades to when Ed Sanders, hired to write a biography on Henley, was accused of stealing lyrics to “Hotel California,” “Life in the Fast Lane,” and “New Kid in Town.” In 2005, Sanders sold the lyrics to Horowitz for $1 million. Horowitz then sold those lyrics to Kosinski and Inciardi.

Inciardi was suspended from his position on the Rock Hall of Fame while awaiting trial.

The case was thrown out after emails between Henley, Azoff and their attorney proved they knew Sanders legally obtained the lyrics sheets.

Horowitz’ lawsuit claims he “was deprived of his liberty and suffered humiliation, defamation, media harassment, diminished reputation, loss of business and/or loss of wages amounting in more than ten million dollars ($10,000,000.00), in addition to mental anguish, indignity, frustration and financial loss.” He is seeking $10 million from Henley and his team for damages.

However, the Eagles’ team is still portraying Henley to be a victim in the situation.

“Don Henley was a witness and a victim in a criminal trial brought by the Manhattan District Attorney after a formal indictment of Glenn Horowitz by a New York grand jury,” Attorney Dan Petrocelli, who represents Henley and Azoff, told The Independent. “The indictment highlighted the dark underbelly of the memorabilia business that exploited the brazen, unauthorized taking and selling of Mr. Henley’s handwritten lyrics. The only malicious prosecution involved here is the filing of this case by Mr. Horowitz.”

Eagle’s Don Henley Sued For $10 million In Stolen Lyrics Case

By Neal Nachman

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