Rock guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen has won $820,000 in damages from his former accountant.
The Swedish rocker sued accountant Michael Mitnick, a partner in the business and entertainment group of Berdon LLP in New York, and his former manager.
Malmsteen accused the two of embezzling $5 million, forcing him to sell most of his guitars at depressed prices to raise cash, according to the New York Post. Malmsteen’s former manager, James Lewis, is facing a pending motion of $2.4 million in damages and interest.
Malmsteen accused the two of swindling him after convincing him in 1994 to sign a deal that redirected his money into a bank account controlled by the accountant and manager. The same accountant was blamed by rapper Lil’ Kim for causing her tax problems in her 2005 perjury trial. Mitnick said that he did not have time to comment.
