NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Toni Braxton Re-files $10 Million Breach Of Contract Lawsuit Against Ex- Manager
Toni Braxton has re-filed her ten million dollar lawsuit against former manager, Barry Hankerson, in New York State Court.
According to a statement released by Braxton's camp, the singer's attorney Peter Haviland, said the move to state court is "the fastest route to getting Braxton free and clear of Hankerson, since we avoid wasting time on any possible dispute over federal jurisdiction of her claims."
After Braxton's re-filing became public, Hankerson's Blackground Records released a statement claiming that the six time Grammy award winner "voluntarily dismissed her lawsuit against the defendants" after the court ordered her to "justify the basis of her lawsuit."
As previously reported by CelebrityAccess (Jan. 13, 2007), Braxton originally filed a $10 Million lawsuit, in Manhattan, against her former manager accusing him of breach of contract. Braxton sued Hankerson and Blackground on Jan. 12, alleging he "actively sought to destroy Braxton's relationship with Arista through underhanded 'double-talk' aimed at convincing the six-time Grammy winner to sign with Blackground. Braxton was seeking $10 million in damages and the cancellation of her multi-album contract with Blackground.
On Wednesday, January 31st, Hankerson issued a new statement via Blackground’s attorney, Samuel E. Chilakos.
"Neither Blackground Records nor Barry Hankerson has been served with the new lawsuit; nevertheless, we are quite confident that this new lawsuit will ultimately be deemed devoid of merit. Both Blackground Records LLC and Barry Hankerson have fulfilled all of their obligations to Ms. Braxton and find it disappointing that she has chosen litigation instead of working with Blackground Records to make a hit album that could have revived her recording career," says the statement.
Hankerson claims that Braxton's original lawsuit comes just two days after he dropped her from Blackground when she collected an advance for an album that she later refused to deliver.
According to Hankerson, Braxton was released from Blackground Records on January 10, 2007.
