He wasted a good deal of money in a legal case that he launched against the Performing Right Society, in which he argued that he should not have to pay a royalty to perform music in public which had been brought to him in manuscript, and which therefore, by agreeing to sing it, Coates had encouraged the publishers to publish. He lost the case, and it preyed on his mind and finances for long after, though he refused offers of financial support from other singers.
He squandered a considerable amount of money in a lawsuit he initiated against the Performing Right Society, where he contended that he shouldn't have to pay royalties for performing music in public that had been provided to him in written form, and which therefore, by agreeing to sing it, Coates had prompted the publishers to publish. He lost the case, and it weighed heavily on his mind and finances for a long time, although he declined offers of financial assistance from other singers.