Classic Rock Icon Cleared of 'Malicious' Charges in Major Legal Victory Jacqueline Burt CoteNovember 25, 2025 at 11:45 PM 0 Photo by Fairfax Media Archives on Getty Images Rock stars might be known for living lavish lifestyles, but there's oftentimes a price to pay for worldwide fame and success: ongoing legal battles. Countless famous musicians have been dragged into court over everything from publishing rights to recording contracts, and Don Henley of The Eagles is no different.
- - Classic Rock Icon Cleared of 'Malicious' Charges in Major Legal Victory
Jacqueline Burt CoteNovember 25, 2025 at 11:45 PM
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Photo by Fairfax Media Archives on Getty Images
Rock stars might be known for living lavish lifestyles, but there's oftentimes a price to pay for worldwide fame and success: ongoing legal battles. Countless famous musicians have been dragged into court over everything from publishing rights to recording contracts, and Don Henley of The Eagles is no different. Luckily for the classic rock icon, however, a judge recently sided with the former Eagles member in a case that's more than a little bit confusing.
It all started when rare books dealer Glenn Horowitz was one of three defendants charged in a criminal case of trying to sell allegedly stolen copies of over 100 pages of drafts of Hotel California, handwritten by Henley and Glenn Frey, according to Rolling Stone. Though New York prosecutors dropped the case mid-trial in March 2024, Henley filed a suit of his own against the accused thieves.
But Horowitz wasn't about to back down. He retaliated by suing Henley and his manager, Irving Azoff, claiming that Henley "knew or should have known" that Horowitz's possession and sale of the lyrics was "lawful" and accusing Henley and Azoff of "malicious prosecution and intentional infliction of emotional distress," per American Songwriter.
However, these claims didn't hold much water with Judge Kathleen Waterman-Marshall, who recently granted Henley and Azoff's motion to dismiss Horowitz's lawsuit.
In a statement shared with Rolling Stone, Dan Petrocelli, a lawyer for Henley and Azoff, praised Waterman-Marshall's decision, saying, "The only malicious prosecution was Horowitz's own lawsuit, which the Court promptly and rightly dismissed."
Horowitz's lawyer, Caitlin Robin, shared her own reaction to the ruling, explaining, "We are appealing and moving to renew and reargue the judge's dismissal against Don Henley and Irving Azoff." She added that Horowitz is still pursuing a malicious prosecution suit against the city of New York.
Henley, for his part, has his own pending lawsuit in the state. He's still trying to reclaim the lyrics sheets, which reportedly remain in the custody of the Manhattan DA's office.
Related: The True Story Behind This 'Satanic' Eagles Hit
This story was originally published by Parade on Nov 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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Source: Entertainment
Published: November 26, 2025 at 04:00AM on Source: ANDY MAG
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