A Cook County judge has ruled in favor of Chicago-born rapper Chance the Rapper, whose legal dispute with former manager Pat Corcoran stretched over nearly six years. The decision, handed down Tuesday by Judge James Hanlon, found that Corcoran breached his fiduciary duties to Chancellor Bennett, Chance’s legal name, potentially entitling the artist to a payout estimated by his representatives at more than $1.5 million.

The legal conflict began in late 2020 when Corcoran’s company filed a lawsuit seeking millions of dollars in unpaid commissions and royalties from Bennett’s businesses. Two months later, Bennett countersued, alleging that Corcoran abused his managerial position by diverting opportunities to his own companies and sought kickbacks from vendors, actions that reportedly harmed the rapper’s professional reputation.

The dispute was divided into multiple court proceedings. Earlier this year, a jury trial addressed Corcoran’s initial claims and Bennett’s countersuit. In March, the jury rejected most of Corcoran’s demands, awarding him no money. While the jury recognized Bennett’s countersuit, it granted only $35 in damages, a figure far below the $1 million Bennett originally sought.

The remaining issue of breach of fiduciary duty was resolved in this week’s bench trial. Hanlon explained that Bennett pursued equitable remedies, which necessitated a judge’s ruling rather than a jury’s. The court examined a period beginning in 2013 during which Corcoran was compensated over $10 million, according to court documents. Bennett requested that Corcoran be ordered to return ill-gotten compensation and pay the profits gained through the breach, including punitive damages.

Corcoran’s defense maintained that he functioned as an independent contractor without fiduciary obligations and that Bennett suffered no legally recognizable harm. The judge ultimately directed Corcoran to return vendor commissions wrongfully taken from Bennett’s businesses and to forfeit the 15% management fee tied to merchandising. Although the ruling did not specify a payment amount, both sides have been instructed to submit a joint statement next month detailing the sums owed.

Bennett’s representatives indicated in a statement that Corcoran might have to forfeit up to $1.5 million in management and merchandise-related fees, along with undisclosed vendor commissions. However, Hanlon declined to grant punitive damages or enforce full forfeiture of Corcoran’s entire $10 million in earnings over the years. The judge emphasized that Corcoran had provided valuable services in music and touring, which Bennett accepted and profited from, and that wholly stripping Corcoran’s compensation would be unfair.

In response, Bennett expressed relief at concluding the legal chapter and anticipation of eventually sharing his perspective. Corcoran’s spokesperson emphasized that the court found no basis for Bennett’s claim exceeding $10 million and highlighted the recognition of Corcoran’s valuable work not tainted by self-dealing. The statement concluded that it is now Bennett’s responsibility to prove any harm in the limited merchandising areas addressed in the judge’s order.