Documents obtained by Charisma News reveal that Carman World Outreach, the ministry of deceased Christian singer Carman Licciardello, known throughout his ministry as “Carman,” recently filed suit in Nevada to restrain his estate’s representative from forcibly seizing control of the ministry and its assets. CWO is the nonprofit the singer created to record, sell, promote and manage his music and tours.
CWO’s claim cites multiple examples of the estate’s representative interfering with ministry matters, interests and assets.
According to the court filing, the defendant has attempted to obtain the ministry’s governing documents and material assets owned by CWO, including a recreational vehicle. The representative later “hijacked C.W.O. social media accounts” including Facebook, costing the ministry at least $1,800 per week in lost revenue and over 2,500 social media followers, according to court documents. The representative later attempted to take control of over $53,000 raised through a GoFundMe account set up by CWO to support staff after the singer’s Feb. 16 death at age 65 after hernia surgery, not long before he was to begin a 60-city tour.
The suit seeks to confirm the estate representative is not entitled to any interests in ministry assets and to deliver all social media account information with a list of estate assets. It also seeks damages and fees paid by the estate representative to CWO.
A hearing has been set for Sept. 24.
In a career spanning over half a century, Carman racked up dozens of Grammy nominations and Gospel Music Association Dove Awards. His 1985 release The Champion produced his first hit album and No. 1 single from the album’s title track. Billboard named him “Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year” in both 1992 and 1995. He released 23 studio albums and another 11 compilations in multiple languages between 1980 and 2014, earning six gold records, one platinum and sales of more than 10 million.
From movies to the small screen, Carman’s career took him through several dozen roles in feature films, television and music videos. In 2018 he was inducted by the GMA into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. {eoa}
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