After nearly two years of wrangling, a trial is set to begin Jan. 22, 2025.
The first time I saw this lawsuit, it was clear both sides had very serious risks.
If this goes to trial, it would not surprise me if Mr. Mathews got nothing.
Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS on Dec. 1, 2023 in NYC.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
It would not surprise me if he made a big pot of money.
This is the kind of case any rational person would settle.
The issues are complicated.
I dont know what Im going to do with this, the judge said.
Youre both overconfident in your positions, he warned the dueling lawyers.
Judge Tamzarian said Friday he was having trouble viewing Mathews as an independent contractor.
Im not so sure Im buying that argument.
He didnt have his own hair studio.
He didnt cut anybody elses hair.
All he did for a couple years was cut the hair of these guys.
He had some side gigs, but they werent side gigs in hair, the judge said.
The judge challenged Mathews position as well.
After they put on the makeup, Gene Simmons should have put on a mask?
Wouldnt that ruin the makeup and ruin the whole point?
Is that what youre saying they should have done?
Its not practical for how they do things.
The final status conference remained set for Jan. 6, 2025, two weeks before the scheduled trial.
Mathews said he often worked 12 to 15-hour days without stopping.
Months later, Mathews agreed to work for the band during a tour of South America.
He claims that Gene Simmons started exhibiting flu-like symptoms in Santiago, Chile, on April 20, 2022.
He says crew members were not advised that Simmons had tested positive.
He said that shortly before he was terminated in late May, McGhee brought up theRolling Stonearticle again.
