CHRISETTE MICHELE HIT WITH 20 MILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT

Singer Chrisette Michele hit with 20 million dollar lawsuit by former manager.

Chrisette Michele and her former manager, Douglas “Biggs” Ellison, and his Four Kings Productions company have been involved in a legal battle since last summer. Michele initially acussed Four Kings of embezzling money from her Def Jam contract. Last week, Ellison fired back and filed his own $20 million lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court.

According to Ellison, Def Jam conspired with Michele’s parents to get the singer out of her exclusive contract with Four Kings Productions, Inc. He also claims that Michele’s mother, Lynette Payne, has attempted to take over the role of Michele’s manager, and that Def Jam and the Paynes have made business decisions and deals without him.

“Never heard the word professional until I was much older. And I still can’t find it in myself to look at this is a profession. I’m just singing and writing, and really just working hard. My mother is my manager so I guess you can call what she does professional.”

Ellison helped secured Michele’s recording and publishing deals and completed four songs on her 2007 debut album As I Am, but he claims that he has been cut out of receiving any royalties from the album.

In related news, Michele was nominated for a Grammy Award in the best R&B female performance category for “If I Had My Way.” The singer shared that she still doesn’t view herself as a professional singer. She said.