Kaskade files lawsuit over Kaos closure at Palms
DJ Kaskade has filed a lawsuit against a Red Rock Resorts subsidiary, alleging a breach of contract after the abrupt shutdown of the Palms’ Kaos dayclub and nightclub.
The artist, whose legal name is Ryan Raddon, had agreed to perform at and promote 30 concerts at the Red Rock-owned Palms resort-casino in 2019 and 2020 in exchange for a set amount of money, redacted in the lawsuit. The agreement had half of the performance fees paid in advance.
While Raddon says he completed each of his scheduled performances during the first nine months of 2019, he alleges that in August, FP Holdings, a limited partnership owned by Red Rock, began “unilaterally canceling” his October performances, claiming they would be renovating the venue.
Kaos was shut down for six weeks, beginning in September, to construct a 70-foot dome that covers 33,000 square feet of space.
Raddon argues FP Holdings “did not respond to, or even acknowledge,” the alternative performance dates he provided, and canceled his Nov. 8 performance one week prior “without cause or justification” or payment for the performance. Raddon said the company did pay for the canceled October performances.
A Red Rock representative said the company does not comment on pending litigation.
On Nov. 5, Red Rock Resorts CEO Frank Fertitta III announced Kaos would be shut down, effective immediately. The venue was one of the biggest undertakings of the Palms’ $690 million renovation project, but contributed to significant financial losses. The company reported a net loss of $26.8 million in the third quarter, down $51.9 million from the same period last year.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday, argues the closure left Raddon without a suitable venue to complete his contracted performances, and says he is entitled to all payments due to him under the agreement, plus attorneys’ fees and costs.
Red Rock also faces a lawsuit filed by a lead cocktail server who had worked at Kaos, alleging it failed to give her and other staff members 60 days’ notice of their termination.
Contact Bailey Schulz at bschulz@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0233. Follow @bailey_schulz on Twitter.
