Amy Helm, singer-songwriter and daughter of late Band member Levon Helm, filed a 34-page countersuit in the state Supreme Court on October 16, targeting Levon Helm Studios (LHS). The legal action alleges that her successor, Brian Parillo, used invalid corporate actions to seize control of the Woodstock, New York music venue and improperly obtained voting power from Sandra Helm, Levon’s widow.
Amy Helm Countersues Brian Parillo over Studio Control
- Amy Helm filed a 34-page countersuit on October 16 in the state Supreme Court challenging Brian Parillo’s control of Levon Helm Studios.
- The legal filing alleges Parillo used invalid voting assignments to secure 60% of the company’s voting power while owning just 10% of shares.
- This countersuit follows an August federal lawsuit in which LHS accused Amy Helm of self-dealing, trademark infringement, and $2 million in damages.
Parillo Secured Voting Power Despite Owning Few Shares
The core of Amy Helm’s legal challenge centers on how control of Levon Helm Studios shifted. In May, Amy Helm was removed as president of LHS by Sandra Helm, along with shareholders Brian Parillo and Barbara O’Brien, who alleged mismanagement of the venue. According to the October 16 complaint detailed by Pitchfork, Parillo claimed voting assignments from Sandra Helm and O’Brien to secure 60% of the company’s voting power despite owning only 10% of its shares. Amy and Sandra Helm each own 40% of the company, while Parillo and O’Brien hold the remaining shares.
The lawsuit states that LHS’s certificate of incorporation requires all shareholders to sign written consents for corporate actions taken without a meeting. Amy Helm alleges that Parillo excluded her from management, declared himself director, president, secretary, and treasurer without holding a shareholder meeting, and that she never signed any documents consenting to the management change. Her legal team asserts that these actions render the takeover void.
Lawsuit Alleges Undue Influence over Sandra Helm
Beyond the corporate mechanics, the complaint points to alleged undue influence over Sandra Helm. The filing cites a sworn affirmation by Sandra Helm in a separate dispute over the late Levon Helm’s estate, where her stepmother allegedly stated, “I thought, ‘they’ve conned me.’ I’m so gullible, they’re taking advantage of me. How do I undo this? I don’t know why I keep doing this.”
Further supporting these claims, the lawsuit references a July order from the Ulster County Surrogate’s Court that appointed a guardian ad litem for Sandra Helm in the estate proceeding. The court order described Sandra Helm as “a person under disability” and instructed the guardian to report on her capacity to participate in the litigation.
| Shareholder | Equity Ownership | Disputed Voting Power |
|---|---|---|
| Amy Helm | 40% | Challenged |
| Sandra Helm | 40% | Assigned to Parillo |
| Brian Parillo | 10% | 60% Claimed |
| Barbara O’Brien | 10% | Assigned to Parillo |
LHS Previously Accused Amy Helm of Self-Dealing
The October countersuit escalates an ongoing legal battle that began in August, when LHS filed a federal lawsuit against Amy Helm. That initial complaint accused her of charging $400,000 in personal expenses to the studio, withdrawing $200,000 from the Levon Helm Estate—including funds from an LLC distributing royalties from Levon’s final albums—and infringing on the Midnight Ramble trademark by creating a competing entity called the Helm Family Midnight Ramble.
Relations among the parties deteriorated further following Amy Helm’s removal in May, leading to a physical dispute between Parillo and Amy Helm at the Woodstock property that prompted a police response, though no criminal charges were filed. In response to earlier accusations, Sandra Helm defended the restructuring in a summer interview with the Overlook, stating, “I didn’t like that they wanted to portray Brian like some kind of a puppet master or Svengali that came in and overtook my mind. It’s been blown out of proportion. I just wanted to restructure Levon Helm Studios and bring it back to the glory days. And it’s as simple as that.” Representatives for Amy Helm and Levon Helm Studios have not issued further public statements regarding the latest state court filing.
