Comedy III was formed by Moe, Larry Fine and Joe DeRita to manage all business and merchandise transactions for the team, with each stooge holding an equal stake.

In 1993, Joe (who died while the suit was pending) and Larry's granddaughter filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit against Moe's daughter Joan Howard Maurer and her son Jeffrey, who had inherited the NMP/Normandy business.

The DeRita heirs received the proxy to the Howard share, giving them majority control on the company's management.

Joe DeRita's stepsons, Robert and Earl Benjamin, became the senior management of C3, with Lugosi Jr. serving as an executive board member for several years.

[3] Through its stewardship of the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens brands, C3 Entertainment promotes a "Winter Dance Party" tribute band for live concerts, emulating the ultimately fatal concert tour featuring Valens, the Big Bopper and Buddy Holly.