Mastodon’s members have asked a judge to dismiss parts of a lawsuit brought by Billy Hinds, father of the band’s late former guitarist Brent Hinds, on behalf of his estate. The paperwork, filed Monday, disputes several legal claims in the estate’s complaint, including those concerning a proposed buyout and Hinds’ likeness on the cover of Mastodon’s album Marrow Deep.
The band’s lawyers argue that its individual members should not be personally liable because Mastodon is a limited liability company. They also say an offer from a subsidiary to buy out Hinds’ interests before his death did not create a binding obligation. According to the filing, the estate’s complaint does not identify an agreed purchase price or say that Hinds proposed one when seeking a buyout.
Mastodon also contests the estate’s claims of breach of fiduciary duty and conversion. The band argues that the complaint does not establish a fiduciary relationship connected to the use of Hinds’ image in the album artwork. On the claim that Mastodon took Hinds’ 25 percent ownership interest, the filing says the estate does not allege that the band seized or transferred documents representing those interests.
The filing further challenges the estate’s request concerning future uses of Hinds’ likeness, arguing that the complaint should explain how the estate would govern such use. A Mastodon representative declined to comment, while the estate’s lawyer did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone’s request for comment.
The estate filed its lawsuit in September. It alleges that Hinds’ departure from Mastodon had not been legally formalized before his death in August 2025, despite the band and guitarist having “mutually parted ways” in March of that year. The complaint also says Mastodon sent the estate an $80,000 check representing Hinds’ share of the band, which the estate declined to cash. At the time, Mastodon denied acting with ill intent and said it would defend itself against what it called a meritless lawsuit.
Sources: Rolling Stone.