John Oates Says He’s ‘Deeply Hurt’ by Daryl Hall’s ‘Inaccurate Statements’ amid Legal Dispute

John Oates has filed a first-person statement defending himself amid an ongoing legal dispute with his Hall & Oates bandmate.

In a filing obtained by PEOPLE, Oates claims he is “deeply hurt” by Hall’s “derogatory statements” about him.

“Far from becoming ‘adversarial and aggressive instead of professional and polite’, as Daryl claimed, over the last 50 years I have always devoted my energies to ensuring that both the public and the music industry perceive the Hall & Oates music and brand in the most positive light.” Oates, 75, said in a filing Wednesday.

Oates claims that while he and Hall, 77, “didn’t see eye to eye,” he continued to “present opportunities to enhance and protect the business and artistic integrity of the partnership.”

Daryl Hall claims he ‘ambushed’ John Oates in new filing amid legal dispute

“In fact, Daryl has become unwilling to cooperate with me in trying to protect the marks and other intellectual property that we have built up over decades,” Oates said.

Oates argues that just as Hall has “consistently and publicly been adamant about being seen as an individual and not part of a group or group,” he “now has to act with integrity and make decisions that are right for me, my family and my artistic future.”

While he can’t discuss the specifics of Hall’s statement without violating a confidentiality agreement with Hall, Oates denies breaching their contract, going behind his back or acting in bad faith.

Attorneys for Hall and Oates did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

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Hall filed a first-person affidavit Wednesday in which he claimed Oates ambushed him with plans to sell his stake in the joint venture to a third party.

“This recent malicious behavior by John Oates and the Oates Trust has created tremendous upheaval, damage and hardship in my life, not to mention unnecessary expense and burden, while I am in the middle of a tour across the US West Coast, Japan and Manilla and must focus and perform at a superior level,” Hall said in the filing.

He continued: “I believe that John Oates has timed the unauthorized transaction to cause me the greatest harm. With respect, he must be stopped in this latest act, and his malicious behavior must be curbed once and for all.”

On Nov. 9, Hall began arbitration proceedings against Oates to prevent his bandmate from transferring 100% of his rights, title and interest in Whole Oats to a third-party buyer called Primary Wave Music without Hall’s consent, a transaction he claims was “ unauthorized and void” and breach of contract. Hall argued that Oates had entered into a letter of intent with Primary Wave that could have closed as early as November 20, and Hall argued that a sale would cause him “imminent irreparable harm”.

According to the Associated Press, Primary Wave already has a significant interest in the Grammy-nominated musician’s song catalog for more than 15 years. Don’t miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up to date with the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

John Oates and Daryl Hall in 1983.

Michael Putland/Getty

Daryl Hall granted a temporary restraining order against John Oates after filing a mysterious lawsuit

On November 16, when Hall’s lawsuit was filed, an arbitrator had not been selected, and Hall was unable to pursue his pending arbitration claim for a temporary injunction in the manner requested.

Hall claimed that in order to close the Primary Wave transaction, he sought a restraining order against Oates – which was granted the next day. He stated that he should have “maintained the status quo of WOE prior to a change in control of the partnership in violation of the terms of the Agreement.”

Hall’s legal team wanted to keep most of the matter confidential because it is a “private dispute … This is not a matter of legitimate public interest, although the parties are well known.” His legal team said the dispute related to the interpretation of the 2021 agreement, the terms of which remain confidential.

According to the latest documents, the case will be decided in a confidential arbitration process, and the court will announce at a hearing on Thursday that Oates cannot take any further action regarding the Primary Wave transfer at this time. The court also extended a temporary restraining order that Hall requested earlier this month until Feb. 17, 2024, or after he and Oates settle their dispute, whichever comes first.

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