A February 28th article at www.christianitytoday.com says The Imperials are embroiled in a complex legal battle over who owns the group's name,.. and who gets to reap the profits from that name.

 

According to the news item.. Armond Morales and his wife, Bonnie, are being sued for the Imperials name by a younger group that includes Armond's son, Jason Morales.  The group that the elder Morales cofounded in 1964.. went on to win four Grammys and 13 Dove Awards.

 

That younger group is claiming that Armond transferred the name to the new group when he signed an assignment of trademark in 2005. The elder Morales told Christianity Today reporter, Sarah Pulliam, that he did not consult an attorney before signing the assignment, and now says he was pressured into signing away more than he bargained for, and perhaps more than he owned the rights to. "They have set out to really put me out of business and have no connection with the Imperials, which was my life," Morales said. "I've been devastated by this."   Armond's son, Jason.. told the CT reporter: "I have legally rescinded myself from the business part of it," apprently implying that he's not taking an active part in the lawsuit against his father.

 

Luke Anderson, an attorney representing the younger group, said he believes the case will end up in court later this year. Anderson said his clients "remain wishful [for a settlement], but also skeptical that this matter will settle at this point."

 

read the entire Christianity Today news item here: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/februaryweb-only/109-43.0.html

*editor's note added 02/29/08: The Imperials have posted an "open letter" in reference to the lawsuit..
here: http://theimperialsonline.com/openletter.php