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10:45 PST SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Kevin Cadogan, the ousted
guitarist from Third Eye Blind, is suing his former band
claiming they conspired to kick him out.
Cadogan, 30, claims in the suit
he was promised 50 percent ownership of the band in 1993. But as
the band increased in popularity and caught the attention of
record labels, the suit says 100 percent of the shares went to
the founder of Third Eye Blind, Stephan Jenkins.
Third Eye Blind has produced two
multi-platinum albums, including a 1997 self-titled debut that
included the No. 1 song ``Semi-Charmed Life.'' Cadogan claims he
co-wrote 14 of the songs on both albums.
``It appears that Stephan Jenkins
couldn't handle the fact that Kevin was due rights on this,''
said Tom Swift, a Chicago attorney representing the ousted
Berkeley guitarist.
Cadogan, who was voted songwriter
of the year at the 1999 and 2000 California Music Awards, was
dismissed from the band in January. The guitarist now has a band
called Cousin Kevin.
``My clients do not believe there
is any validity to any of Mr. Cadogan's claims,'' said Stephen
Kroft, a Los Angeles attorney representing the band.
The lawsuit will be subject of a
hearing Friday in a federal court in Oakland.
©2000 Associated
Press
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