Eric Zukoski, a Dallas intellectual property attorney, has worked a side job as a session musician all his adult life.

Performing gigs around Dallas as a double bass player, Zukoski spent much of his time associating with other session musicians. It was that connection that led him to launch a class action in New York state the resulted in a $44.65 million payout of royalties to over 60,000 class members, funds that had not been distributed in some cases going back a decade.