Judge finds Kennedy Center owes musician $250,000 in legal fees

Key Points:

• A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ordered the Kennedy Center to pay $252,479.70 in legal fees to musician Chuck Redd, whom the center sued after he canceled a Christmas Eve concert following the addition of President Trump's name to the building's facade.
• Superior Court Judge Tanya Jones Bosier dismissed the Kennedy Center's lawsuit in June, ruling that Redd faced unlawful retaliation and found that the center owes him legal fees for defending against the meritless case.
• The Kennedy Center accused Redd of violating a "morals clause" and claimed damages due to the concert cancellation, but the judge noted the concert was free, canceled by multiple artists, and that Redd was targeted for speaking out against the name change.
• Redd canceled his performance after Trump's name was added, which was later removed following a board member's successful challenge, and Redd's attorney condemned the lawsuit as politically motivated and an attempt to silence opposition.
• The Kennedy Center plans to appeal the decision, while Redd's attorney emphasized that no citizen should have to endure baseless lawsuits for exercising free speech on matters of public interest.