01/22/08 - Def Jam Sued For $20 Million Dollars Over Chrisette Michele

robby84 · 01-22-2008, 09:34 PM

By Nolan Strong

Douglas "Biggs" Ellison has filed a $20 million dollar lawsuit against Island Def Jam, claiming the label attempted to steal R&B artist Chrisette Michele from his Queens-based production company, Four Kings Productions Inc.
Ellison filed the lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court, claiming that Island Def Jam Music Group, Shalik Berry (A&R) and Michele’s parents Lynette and Lemuel Payne engaged in unlawful business practices in an attempt to get the Grammy nominated singer out of her exclusive contracts with Four Kings.

The court battle ensued when Michele filed a lawsuit against Four Kings Productions Inc. in July of 2007, claiming that the CEO, Douglas "Biggs" Ellison, embezzled money from her Def Jam contract and harassed her.
While Michele eventually withdrew those allegations from her lawsuit, Ellison claims that his reputation was severely damaged when the accusations hit the press.
Four Kings entered into an agreement with Def Jam in September of 2005 and completed multiple songs, which appeared on Michele’s debut album, I AM.

"As soon as the artist’s mother saw that Chrisette was receiving money, all a direct result of the efforts of the production company under its contracts with the artist, Lynette Payne quit her job as a teacher and, in willful disregard of the artist’s contractual obligations to Four Kings, usurped management functions regarding her daughter’s newly found success, in an effort to keep the money in the family," Ellison claims in the lawsuit.

Ellison claims a meeting took place in Def Jam’s New York office, where he met with Berry, as well as the Paynes, who attempted to persuade him to release Michele from the contract.
"Mr. Payne knew about his wife’s attempts to take over management of their daughter’s suddenly burgeoning career, and hoped that his role in trying to take over management of the artist could be kept in the background," Ellison’s lawsuit states.
The lawsuit further claims that business decisions made by Def Jam, Berry and the Paynes prevented Four Kings from receiving income from the sales of Michele’s debut album I AM.

Ellison also counter sued Michele for breach of contract in a previously filed lawsuit.
Michele was recently nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance for her song "If I Had My Way."
Her voice can also be heard on three tracks featured on the Grammy-nominated album Hip Hop Is Dead by Def Jam recording artist Nas, as well as Jay-Z’s single "Lost One" from his album Kingdom Come.

More recently Michele can be heard on the track "Slow Down" from Ghostface Killah’s CD critically acclaimed CD The Big Doe Rehab.

Representatives for Ellison stated that he hoped the litigation does not "sidetrack Ms. Michele from the long and successful career that Mr. Ellison predicts is certain to be ahead for the incredibly talented Ms. Michele."

source- allhiphop

MC B STREETZ · 01-23-2008, 12:01 AM

20 milly.....damn

Em50Dre · 01-23-2008, 12:59 AM

fuckin gay

Zhiwai · 01-23-2008, 01:35 AM

Props on this

soysauce · 01-23-2008, 01:47 AM

Rofl i hope they win

Bkjj11 · 01-23-2008, 02:52 AM

u know he aint winnin. My boy told me them lawyers for that label are beasts lol.

#1 Shorty · 01-23-2008, 03:18 AM

Dats alot of dollars.. dammmmmmmm. Oh and goodluck!

djmiguel09 · 01-23-2008, 05:54 AM

wow so much money....well its life

MS DIOR · 01-23-2008, 09:13 AM

lol..........................

Marky G · 01-23-2008, 12:50 PM

another album def jam fucked a lil bit, needed more promotion coz this girl can sing....

Plazma204 · 01-24-2008, 02:57 AM

its gay but dam i would hit that girl

01-23-2008, 12:01 AM	#2
MC B STREETZ YAYO'S ADVOCATE/HYPE MAN Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: FIND ME IN YA CRIB WIT DA NINA WHERE DA MONEY AT Posts: 18,199 Repped: 3,566 Repped 21,974 Times in 2,200 Posts Neg Reps: 58 Neg Repped at 51 Times in 45 Posts	20 milly.....damn __________________ "I'M A LOUDMOUTH NIGGA BUT MY RUGER SILENT" -TONY YAYO A.K.A TALK OF NEW YORK "ALL YAYO ENEMYS ARE ALL OF MY ENEMYS" - MC B STREETZ A.K.A YAYO'S NINJA

01-23-2008, 02:52 AM	#6
Bkjj11 Cuz u copied my trend Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Playboy Mansion Posts: 4,268 Repped: 219 Repped 6,920 Times in 628 Posts Neg Reps: 56 Neg Repped at 97 Times in 62 Posts	u know he aint winnin. My boy told me them lawyers for that label are beasts lol. __________________

01-23-2008, 03:18 AM	#7
#1 Shorty Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Aussie Posts: 50 Repped: 0 Repped 1 Time in 1 Post Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Dats alot of dollars.. dammmmmmmm. Oh and goodluck! __________________ X's #1 Shawty rite here..

01-23-2008, 09:13 AM	#9
MS DIOR ♥ IM A FEMALE ♥ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: WITH 50 ;) Posts: 8,157 Repped: 967 Repped 717 Times in 241 Posts Neg Reps: 79 Neg Repped at 28 Times in 28 Posts	lol.......................... __________________ CHR!SSY:TH3 OR!G!N@L..HATING IS THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY....FUCK YOU! ;)

01-24-2008, 02:57 AM	#11
Plazma204 T.I.P. Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Somewere Posts: 2,284 Repped: 614 Repped 182 Times in 48 Posts Neg Reps: 20 Neg Repped at 10 Times in 10 Posts	its gay but dam i would hit that girl __________________ Konvict Muzik

01-22-2008, 09:34 PM	#1
robby84 Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Queenz Bred, livin life in Y.O. Posts: 8,584 Repped: 3,247 Repped 13,921 Times in 1,128 Posts Neg Reps: 12 Neg Repped at 8 Times in 8 Posts	01/22/08 - Def Jam Sued For $20 Million Dollars Over Chrisette Michele 01/22/08 - Def Jam Sued For $20 Million Dollars Over Chrisette Michele By Nolan Strong Douglas "Biggs" Ellison has filed a $20 million dollar lawsuit against Island Def Jam, claiming the label attempted to steal R&B artist Chrisette Michele from his Queens-based production company, Four Kings Productions Inc. Ellison filed the lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court, claiming that Island Def Jam Music Group, Shalik Berry (A&R) and Michele’s parents Lynette and Lemuel Payne engaged in unlawful business practices in an attempt to get the Grammy nominated singer out of her exclusive contracts with Four Kings. The court battle ensued when Michele filed a lawsuit against Four Kings Productions Inc. in July of 2007, claiming that the CEO, Douglas "Biggs" Ellison, embezzled money from her Def Jam contract and harassed her. While Michele eventually withdrew those allegations from her lawsuit, Ellison claims that his reputation was severely damaged when the accusations hit the press. Four Kings entered into an agreement with Def Jam in September of 2005 and completed multiple songs, which appeared on Michele’s debut album, I AM. "As soon as the artist’s mother saw that Chrisette was receiving money, all a direct result of the efforts of the production company under its contracts with the artist, Lynette Payne quit her job as a teacher and, in willful disregard of the artist’s contractual obligations to Four Kings, usurped management functions regarding her daughter’s newly found success, in an effort to keep the money in the family," Ellison claims in the lawsuit. Ellison claims a meeting took place in Def Jam’s New York office, where he met with Berry, as well as the Paynes, who attempted to persuade him to release Michele from the contract. "Mr. Payne knew about his wife’s attempts to take over management of their daughter’s suddenly burgeoning career, and hoped that his role in trying to take over management of the artist could be kept in the background," Ellison’s lawsuit states. The lawsuit further claims that business decisions made by Def Jam, Berry and the Paynes prevented Four Kings from receiving income from the sales of Michele’s debut album I AM. Ellison also counter sued Michele for breach of contract in a previously filed lawsuit. Michele was recently nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance for her song "If I Had My Way." Her voice can also be heard on three tracks featured on the Grammy-nominated album Hip Hop Is Dead by Def Jam recording artist Nas, as well as Jay-Z’s single "Lost One" from his album Kingdom Come. More recently Michele can be heard on the track "Slow Down" from Ghostface Killah’s CD critically acclaimed CD The Big Doe Rehab. Representatives for Ellison stated that he hoped the litigation does not "sidetrack Ms. Michele from the long and successful career that Mr. Ellison predicts is certain to be ahead for the incredibly talented Ms. Michele." source- allhiphop __________________ Most loved/Hated Moderator "Stop Bitchin" - Robby

01-23-2008, 12:59 AM	#3
Em50Dre Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 468 Repped: 94 Repped 22 Times in 13 Posts Neg Reps: 104 Neg Repped at 45 Times in 27 Posts	fuckin gay

01-23-2008, 01:35 AM	#4
Zhiwai G_unit_soldier_Chang Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 9,469 Repped: 15 Repped 49 Times in 8 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Props on this

01-23-2008, 01:47 AM	#5
soysauce Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 60 Repped: 12 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Rofl i hope they win

01-23-2008, 05:54 AM	#8
djmiguel09 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Jamaica Posts: 25 Repped: 0 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	wow so much money....well its life

01-23-2008, 12:50 PM	#10
Marky G Hip.Hop.UK.CrazyKId Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: West London Posts: 823 Repped: 271 Repped 75 Times in 16 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 1 Time in 1 Post	another album def jam fucked a lil bit, needed more promotion coz this girl can sing....

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