Jello Biafra drops Kennedys suit

Former Dead Kennedys lead singer Jello Biafra has dropped his remaining lawsuit against members of his band.

In May 2000, a jury convicted Biafra and his record label of breach of contract and fraud. In June 2003, a state appeals court upheld that decision and ordered Biafra to pay $220,000 in back royalties and other damages.

It also decided that the San Francisco-based punk band’s creative output, including songs “Holiday in Cambodia” and “Kill the Poor,” belongs to a partnership formed among the four band members.

But the panel reversed the lower court’s decision to break up the partnership, remanding the case back to the trial court to determine whether a partnership among the band members should be dissolved and its assets sold. Now Biafra has decided not to proceed, on grounds that “the partnership’s assets would be substantially diminished” by breaking it up.