Palace sues singer Engelbert Humperdinck for $70,000

In this May 27, 2012 file photo United Kingdom's Engelbert Humperdinck performs during the final show of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, Azerbaijan. (AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev, File)

The Palace Theatre in Albany filed a lawsuit last week against Arnold George Dorsey, commonly known by his stage name Engelbert Humperdinck, for funds never returned after he canceled a show three years ago.

The Palace Performing Arts Center is seeking more than $70,000 in compensation from the British-Indian pop singer for deposits toward shows in 2011 that Humperdinck canceled at the last minute.

Humperdinck was scheduled to perform at the Palace on June 29, 2011. The theater provided him with a $20,000 deposit, spent nearly $10,000 on advertising and $632 for transportation. Also, 668 tickets were sold for a total of $31,549.

The Palace, represented by Hinckley, Allen & Snyder, is looking to be reimbursed for a list of costs totaling more than $70,000, including the $20,000 deposit, advertising expenses, transportation funding, ticket sales and attorney fees.

According to the lawsuit filed on May 28 with the Albany County Clerk, “On or about June 28, 2011, Mr. Humperdinck and/or his agents contacted the Palace and canceled the June 29, 2011, performance.”

The Agency for the Performing Arts refused to return the deposit, claiming that Humperdinck intended to reschedule the canceled show. But the Palace said it did not want to reschedule, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also states, “On or about June 28, 2011, or June 29, 2011, the day before or the day of the concert, Defendant Mr. Humperdinck abruptly and without prior warning, canceled the agreed-upon June 29, 2011, performance, despite the fact that his band was already in place, and despite the fact that Plaintiff had performed all of its duties and obligations pursuant to the agreement.”

Palace officials could not be reached for comment Monday. Humperdinck, 78, is not a stranger to the Capital Region. He performed at Proctors in Schenectady last year.

Humperdinck, who was born in India and grew up in Leicester, England, is best known for his hit songs “Release me” and “The Last Waltz,” which were released in the mid-1960s.