New Dani Zoldan Legal Claim Just Dropped

Update 10/9/24: the filings referenced in this post have been “returned for correction” and are no longer available on the New York Courts’ website. For reference, I have uploaded here the proposed confession and Zoldan’s contract with the UJA; I neglected to save a copy of the affidavit, but will post it if and when the plaintiff re-files. Also, since there was no formal complaint filed, I have changed the word “lawsuit” in the headline to “legal claim.”

After four and a half years of relative good luck, I finally succumbed to the novel coronavirus last week, so naturally a bunch of interesting things happened in the comedy world while I was out of commission. (Granted, by “interesting things” I mostly mean “articles and podcast episodes that raised my blood pressure,” but still.) I’ll get you a bigger roundup this weekend, but today I want to quickly apprise you of a new development involving one of our favorite subjects: Stand Up NY owner Dani Zoldan has been named in yet another legal claim.

Let’s Check Back In With Dani Zoldan, Shall We?

Also: Dave Smith’s defense of Hitler.

HumorismSeth Simons

When we checked in with him a few weeks ago, Zoldan was facing two lawsuits from a financier he allegedly failed to pay back. Both cases settled shortly after I sent out that update, with Zoldan agreeing to pay what he owed. Just last week, however, the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York, the sponsor and beneficiary of The Chosen Comedy Festival, a “Stand Up Comedy Festival showcasing diverse Jewish talent” he produced in Coney Island last year, filed a claim against him. 

According to the UJA—and, indeed, according to Zoldan, who in July signed an affidavit in support of a confession of judgment—Stand Up NY agreed to pay the charity $11 for every ticket sold to the festival. At 3,207 tickets sold, this came out to $35,277. Surprise surprise, Zoldan still owes UJA most that money. Per a proposed judgment, he’s apparently only paid $3,207—one buck per ticket.

Now, here’s the interesting thing. The UJA filed a copy of its contract with Stand Up NY outlining its agreement to sponsor the festival. Among other things, the parties agreed that a portion of the festival’s proceeds would benefit UJA; that Stand Up NY would prominently mention the UJA in advertisements and in signage at the festival itself; that the festival's headliners would introduce a representative of UJA to appear onstage; and that in addition to the cut of each ticket, Stand Up NY would give UJA the names and contact info of everyone who attended the festival. 

Then there's this: 

Charity Obligations. Charity agrees to pay to the Promoter [Stand Up NY] or its designee the total amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) (the “Sponsorship Fee”) according to the following schedule:

$50,000 upon full execution of this Agreement 

$50,000 on or before February 28, 2023

Isn't it interesting how much money seems to be flowing into the coffers of a company that chronically struggles to pay its workers and financiers?

Zoldan’s “Comics for Kamala” tour, which supposedly collects donations to the Harris campaign at each show, is in full swing, with dates scheduled in Michigan, Massachusetts, and Colorado. It also stopped by the Comedy Store just this week and was featured in a virtual rally hosted by Oprah Winfrey, with Zoldan himself in the crowd.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: nice work if you can get it.