New York Judge Dismisses Multimillion-Dollar Suit, Clears Way for Vybz Kartel

Vybz Kartel was cleared to resume U.S. business after Justice Brendan T. Lantry in Kings County, New York, granted a motion to dismiss with prejudice in a multimillion-dollar suit targeting the dancehall star and a promoter. The court action was granted on March 3, 2026, and reported publicly on March 7, 2026.

The suit, filed in July 2025, named Karen Soltau-Mutebi and The Conglomerate Group Inc. as plaintiffs, represented by attorneys Chidi Anthony Eze and Natasha Holly Applewhite, according to court filings reported in multiple outlets. The defendants included Adidja Palmer, known professionally as Vybz Kartel, and a promoter agency; DancehallMag identified an additional defendant by the surname Johnson, represented by Padilla & Associates, PLLC.

Plaintiffs alleged they coordinated, funded and facilitated the visa petition that allowed Kartel to work in the U.S., and that this support conferred exclusive promotional rights through January 2028. An exhibit referenced in filings showed the O-1B visa carried a clearance annotation naming The Conglomerate Group Inc., and Worldmusicviews reported the three-year O-1B visa for Kartel was issued on January 29, 2025. DancehallMag detailed the damages sought as US$4 million in compensatory damages, US$2 million in punitive damages, plus proceeds from shows the plaintiffs said were staged without authorization; Worldmusicviews summarized the matter as a six million dollar lawsuit tied to promotion and the O-1B visa.

The procedural outcome was a dismissal with prejudice, which bars the plaintiffs from refiling the same claims in that court, according to NY Carib News and other reporting. DancehallMag noted that the reason for the dismissal was not stated in the court papers it obtained, and no other outlet provided a specific legal rationale in the materials supplied.

Kartel was represented by The Townsend Law Firm, PLLC, led by Kadian Townsend, Esq., a New York-based attorney who, in coverage carried by Worldmusicviews, Jamaica Observer and NY Carib News, celebrated the result. Townsend said, "As you can imagine, the deejay is very pleased with the ruling, as it intercepted any serious ripple effects that could have had implications both financially and professionally, and could have impacted business relationships and performing rights. Winning this case is a huge relief and now he can put it behind him and just focus on continuing to thrive in his career." Townsend also said, "Professionally, this victory further cements the firm’s reputation as an emerging force in the entertainment law arena. While the firm routinely handles transactional matters for artistes, production companies and entrepreneurs, this case highlights the strength of its litigation practice as well. It demonstrates that Townsend Law is a true one-stop shop for business and entertainment clients—in negotiating contracts, structuring deals and vigorously defending clients when disputes arise." DancehallMag, by contrast, reported that the attorney who represented Kartel declined to comment.

Worldmusicviews and other outlets noted that at one point an injunction had threatened to halt Kartel’s landmark concert run and potentially freeze proceeds from performances, including dates tied to his 2025 appearances such as the May 17, 2025 show at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. With Justice Lantry’s March 3, 2026 order dismissing the suit with prejudice, the immediate legal constraint on Kartel’s U.S. performances is removed; no appeals or post-judgment moves have been reported in the available material.