Nation singer Luke Combs drops $250k lawsuit towards fan who bought merchandise – and sends her cash as an alternative

A US nation singer has dropped a $250,000 (£200,000) lawsuit towards a disabled girl who bought merchandise along with his face on them, and can now fundraise for her.

Lawyers for Luke Combs, who lately topped the US nation chart, went after firms promoting unauthorised merchandise – however Florida girl Nicol Harness received caught up within the crackdown.

She had bought 18 tumblers she had made along with his title and face for $20 (£16) every, making $360 (£280) in whole.

The singer stated he had advised his legal professionals to take away her from the lawsuit and stated he was sending her $11,000 (£8650).

He additionally stated in an Instagram video that he would begin promoting his personal tumblers, with the proceeds going to pay Ms Harness’s medical payments – she has coronary heart illness and lately wanted hospital therapy.

He additionally stated he would fly Ms Harness and her household to an upcoming live performance so he may meet her.

Combs stated his legal professionals had been solely purported to go after massive firms, not followers who’ve a little bit enterprise on the facet. Most of the 45 different sellers sued seem like massive operations in Asia, court docket filings present.

Under US copyright regulation, sellers of unauthorised items may be hit with stiff penalties and have their property seized. They may also face felony expenses.

“This is not something that I would ever do. This is not the kind of person I am. I’m not greedy in any way, shape or form. Money is the last thing on my mind. I promise you guys that,” Combs stated.

Ms Harness’s plight got here to mild on Tuesday after a narrative by Tampa TV station WFLA went viral.

She advised the station the lawsuit was despatched by e mail and went to her unsolicited mail folder so she by no means noticed it.

When Ms Harness did not reply as required inside 30 days, the decide discovered her in default and ordered her to pay $250,000.

She found she had been sued when Amazon, obeying the decide’s order, froze the $5,500 she had in her account for attainable seizure, that means she could not pay her payments.

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An enormous fan of the singer, Ms Harness began promoting the Combs tumblers after going to one in every of his live shows.

“It’s very stressful,” Ms Harness advised the station. “I didn’t mean any harm to Luke Combs. I quit selling the tumbler. I pulled it down. I just don’t understand… This is not something I meant to go wrong like this. I just want to get back to my day-to-day life.”

Combs stated in his Instagram video that he first learnt of what had occurred when he received up at 5am on Wednesday to go to the bathroom and noticed the story.

He received Ms Harness’s quantity by means of his supervisor and known as her.

“I was so apologetic in talking with her. It just makes me sick, honestly, that this would happen, especially at the holidays. I can’t imagine being in her shoes,” Combs stated.

Ms Harness stated he was “a very nice guy, very understanding” once they spoke.

She advised WFLA on Wednesday: “I still can’t believe he called me and he is doing these things for me.”