Maynard James Keenan, the lead singer of Tool, is facing a lawsuit tied to his Arizona gin business, as reported by Courthouse News Service. Former business partner Dave Sanclement alleges he was wrongfully pushed out of the craft gin distillery company Potions in retaliation for raising complaints against Keenan.
The lawsuit was filed in Maricopa County Superior Court. It centers on claims that Sanclement was stripped of his operational role after filing formal complaints about alleged illegal conduct at Keenan’s other businesses — actions he says had nothing to do with the gin venture itself.
Courthouse News Service reported: “A business partner of rock singer Maynard James Keenan has sued the musician in Maricopa County Superior Court, claiming he was forced out of a business venture in retaliation for filing formal complaints against the Tool lead singer over reported illegal conduct.”
Sanclement was one of four co-managers overseeing Potions, the Arizona-based company that manufactures Thirteen Moons Gin. He alleges that Keenan and the two other co-managers acted in bad faith to remove him from his day-to-day responsibilities.
“Plaintiff Dave Sanclement, one of four co-managers of the Arizona-based craft gin distillery company Potions that manufactures Thirteen Moons Gin, says Keenan and the two other co-managers conspired in bad faith to strip him of his role overseeing the daily operations of the company in retaliation for actions unrelated to their business,” Courthouse News Service continued.
Sanclement is suing for breach of contract, claiming the ouster — which allegedly took place in late 2025 — was retaliatory in nature. The case is currently proceeding in Maricopa County Superior Court.
The complaint paints a broader picture of the fallout, revealing that Sanclement’s removal went beyond simply losing his title. It came with a full lockout from the company’s operations and finances.
As Blunt Magazine reported, the lawsuit names not only Keenan but also Potions, LLC, the Thirteen Moons Gin entity PotionG, and co-managers Tim White and Calvin Arnold as defendants. Sanclement alleges that after filing his complaints in late 2025, he was barred from company headquarters and had his consulting agreement terminated. He is also seeking access to company records and financial information, as well as punitive damages and legal fees, claiming he was denied access to books and records despite repeated requests.
The gin venture itself is relatively new. The Mosh noted that the project began taking shape in 2024 before Thirteen Moons Gin officially launched through Potions, LLC. The alleged retaliation and subsequent legal battle mark a swift and dramatic turn for what was still a young business.
The lawsuit adds another layer of complexity to Keenan’s already extensive Arizona business portfolio. Blunt Magazine also noted that Keenan is heavily involved in the state’s beverage industry through his wine ventures Caduceus Cellars and Merkin Vineyards, both of which are based in Arizona. The gin company represented an expansion of that entrepreneurial footprint — one that has now landed him in court.
Keenan has not publicly commented on the lawsuit. As the case moves forward in Maricopa County Superior Court, the outcome could have significant implications for the future of Potions, LLC and the Thirteen Moons Gin brand.
