Alternative metal star Maynard James Keenan has been hit with a lawsuit from a former business partner over a venture into the gin business. Keenan, known for fronting Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer, has numerous business ventures in Arizona, including a vineyard and winery, a martial arts dojo, and various other brick and mortar pursuits.
This suit, filed on June 06th, 2026, centers around a venture into the gin business Keenan has undertaken. Back in 2024 Keenan was publicly musing about cracking into that market, and went on to do so with several partners via Potions, LLC and Thirteen Moons Gin. Keenan along with Potions, LLC, and a pair of co-managers involved with that company, Tim White and Calvin Arnold, are named in this new suit, which was filed by Dave Sanclemente.
Sanclemente alleges that the aforementioned trio “conspired in bad faith” to strip him of his various business duties in Potions, LLC back around November of 2025. His complaint alleges that alleged ousting transpired in retaliation for a matter “wholly unrelated” to the business operations of Potions.
According to the suit, the trouble emerged after Sanclemente lodged, “a series of formal complaints about Defendant Keenan related to workplace issues at his other businesses. The complaints alleged conduct by Keenan that Plaintiff believed to be illegal.”
Sanclemente alleges that in response to his complaints, he was essentially ousted from the company one month later, with his responsibilities being stripped, his contract being voided, and various facets of his role at the company were terminated or limited.
As a result, Sanclemente has filed suit for breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and breach of fiduciary duty. He is seeking access to the company’s books and accounting, punitive damages for the “willful, extreme, outrageous and malicious conduct” claimed to have been conducted by his former business partners, as well as having his legal fees covered.
A copy of the complaint is available over at courthousenews.com.
