AceShowbiz -

Mischa Barton has sued her mother Nuala Barton for exploitation. According to the lawsuit filed on Tuesday, April 7 the mother who was also a longtime manager of the former "The O.C." star stole her earnings and made endorsement deals that damaged the actress' reputation.

In the suit filed in Los Angeles, Nuala is also accused of kicking out her daughter from their home in Beverly Hills. The $7.8 million property was bought using Mischa's own money earned when she was a child actress. The mother, however, claimed a one-half interest in the property and encumbered it with two deeds of trust without providing any documentation to Mischa.

Nuala served as Mischa's manager since she was a child actress. Mischa said that she had an oral deal with Nuala when she was eight that Nuala would receive a 10% management fee. However, Nuala exploited Mischa by pocketing most of her compensation for acting, modeling and endorsement work. The mother also lied that the money earned by Mischa from her work in the movie "The Hoarder" was less than negotiated. Instead, Nuala saved the difference for herself.

"While Barton was busy perfecting her craft and turning her acting dreams into reality, her mother, defendant Nuala Barton, was secretly scheming to exploit Barton's burgeoning career for her benefit," the lawsuit claimed.

Besides, the suit claimed that Nuala used Mischa's name, image and likeness to build businesses such as handbag line and fashion boutique without sharing interest with her daughter. It also claimed that Nuala damaged Mischa's reputation by signing contracts without her permission.

"Nuala did not compensate Barton for the use of her name, image and likeness, nor did she share in any of the profits from these ventures with Barton," Mischa's lawyer Alex Weingarten wrote in the lawsuit. "This is all despite the fact that the businesses were built solely on Barton's fame and popularity."

Reports said that Nuala no longer served as Mischa's manager ever since the issues emerged.