The Grammy-winning songstress has been slapped with a $150,000 lawsuit after she allegedly failed to pay a lawyer who represented her earlier this year.
- October 1, 2014
AceShowbiz -
Anita Baker was sued by a lawyer named Jamal Hamood who represented her earlier this year. Jamal filed a $150,000 lawsuit on Monday, September 29 in Wayne County Circuit Court. Jamal told WXYZ-TV Anita owed him for more than a year of work; nearly $69,000 for salary, travel and other expenses.
Jamal said Anita gave him two checks with total $30,000 back in July but they failed to clear. He added, "[Anita] didn't pay me for anything that I did for her in 2014." He said in his suit that Anita hired him to be her Vice President of Operations and was supposed to pay him $85,000 a year. Jamal alleged Anita also failed to pay at least five other lawyers, and the 7 Investigators claimed there were also other local lawyers who previously sued Anita over unpaid wages.
Jamal stated in his lawsuit, "Defendant Anita Baker continuously praised the Plaintiff, in both emails and text messages... and promised to make payments as soon as she was able to free up some funds... It was instead Defendant Anita Baker's method of operation to make such promises without an intention to pay."
Back in March, Jamal represented Anita after a painter accused her of owing him $15,000 for work done at her house. At that time, Jamal said Anita refused to pay the painter because she thought the job was not done well.
Jamal then discovered that he and the painter were not the first ones to be stiffed by the singer. He said of Anita, "She was developing a sort of pattern of trying to lure them in, get them to additional work, and then not pay for that work."
According to AP, a status conference on the lawsuit is set for January 2.
Anita's representative has not commented on the issue yet.
