A US federal jury has ordered Rod to pay $2 million ($2.6 million) plus interest for cancelling a Las Vegas concert five years ago after he had throat surgery.
A US District Court jury in Las Vegas found unanimously that Rod must return the $2 million advance he was paid when booked to perform in December 2000 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, lawyers for both sides said.
Rod told the Rio in November of that year that he would be unable to appear because he was recovering from throat surgery several months earlier due to thyroid cancer.
His lawyer, Skip Miller, said Rod was prepared to make up the missed date if the Rio would reschedule.
“He’s more popular than ever,” Miller said, adding that Rod planned to appeal against the verdict on grounds that his contract allowed him to reschedule the missed show in case of illness.
But Steve Morris, attorney for the Rio, said the jury agreed with the hotel-casino that the contract had no provision that allowed him “not to show up and keep the money.”
Rod, who testified in the case, was not in court for the verdict.
Morris said he expected the court to enter a judgment against Rod that could run “several million dollars” when interest, court costs and possibly attorney’s fees, are included.
Miller said an earlier summary judgment against Rod in the case was overturned on appeal and he expected the same outcome for the jury verdict.
Rod has performed more than 200 live shows since his throat surgery in May 2000, Miller said.
The hotel is owned by Harrah’s Entertainment Inc.