From Billboard · Rachel Scharf · · 1m 50s
Springsteen beats appeal over the vintage car on his album cover
A New Jersey appeals court says a car collector's family had no real evidence Springsteen promised more money for using the GTO on his cover.
In brief
A New Jersey appeals court says a car collector's family had no real evidence Springsteen promised more money for using the GTO on his cover. If a promise was only spoken and the only proof comes secondhand from someone who has died, it will struggle to hold up in court. Originally reported by Billboard.
Springsteen wins round two
On Sept. 15, a New Jersey appeals court upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit over the 1967 Pontiac GTO on the cover of Only the Strong Survive. Sony Music and manager Jon Landau were named too.
A $1,200 photo shoot
In 2021, collector Louis Billotti was paid $1,200 so Springsteen could pose with his GTO at two shoots at the singer's New Jersey home. One photo became the cover of the 2022 covers album, which debuted at No. 8.
The promise nobody can prove
Billotti died shortly before the album came out. In 2023 his son sued, saying Springsteen had verbally promised more money if the photos landed on a cover. Springsteen denied it, and a trial judge threw out the case.
Double hearsay sinks the case
The appeals panel found no witness or document backing the son's story. All he had was a conversation his late father told him about, which courts rarely accept as evidence.
Friends told a different story
Several witnesses said Billotti never expected extra money. A longtime friend said in a sworn statement that he just loved the experience and couldn't wait to see his car on the album.
“was a simple guy and just really enjoyed the experience he had with Bruce Springsteen”
Legally untenable, says the court
The panel said the trial court had good reason to rule without a trial, given how little evidence there was. The son's attorney declined to comment.
“the alleged promises were insufficiently evidenced and legally untenable”
In short
If a promise was only spoken and the only proof comes secondhand from someone who has died, it will struggle to hold up in court.
