Six former CRADLE OF FILTH members have jointly filed a lawsuit against the band, its business entities, and frontman Dani Filth, according to documents submitted to the United States District Court for the District of Arizona.
The plaintiffs — Zoë Federoff, Marek “Ashok” Smerda, Lindsay Schoolcraft (Lindsay Matheson), Richard Shaw, Paul Allender, and Sasha Baxter — are taking legal action against Cradle of Filth LLP, Cradle of Filth Touring Ltd., Daniel “Dani” Filth, and Oracle Management.
Allegations of Unauthorized Use of Likeness and Recordings
At the core of the lawsuit is the claim that CRADLE OF FILTH continued to commercially use the former members’ likenesses and recorded performances after their departures from the band. According to the filing, the plaintiffs’ images and appearances were used across merchandise, vinyl releases, posters, online listings, and even paid meet-and-greet materials — all allegedly without permission or compensation.
The complaint further states that likeness-based merchandise was licensed to third-party vendors and distributed through outside sales channels. A licensing deal, identified in the filing as the Night Shift Master Licensing Agreement, is referenced as part of these claims. The plaintiffs say they requested a copy of the agreement but were not given one.
Individual Claims Detailed in the Filing
The lawsuit outlines several specific allegations:
- Lindsay Schoolcraft claims that merchandise incorporating her original Sigils artwork has been produced and sold without her authorization.
- Sasha Baxter alleges she appeared in the music videos for “Malignant Perfection” and “To Live Deliciously,” received no payment for her performances, and later discovered merchandise featuring her image from those videos being sold.
- Zoë Federoff and Marek “Ashok” Smerda claim they were offered a post-departure contract that would have given the band exclusive control over their likenesses, recorded performances, and revenue from VIP/meet-and-greet events using their names or appearances. According to the filing, both declined to sign the agreement.
Defamation Claim Against Dani Filth
In addition to the commercial-use allegations, the lawsuit includes a defamation claim. One section of the complaint states that Dani Filth publicly claimed Federoff drank alcohol during pregnancy and suggested that her miscarriage resulted from alcohol consumption — accusations the filing says damaged her reputation.
Merchandise Sales Continued Despite Objections
The document also alleges that merchandise featuring the plaintiffs’ likenesses remained on sale — including at recent live shows — even after objections were formally raised.
No court date has been scheduled yet. The case will not move forward until the defendants file their response and the court issues its initial scheduling order.
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