R&B singer Chrisette Michele and her bosses at Def Jam Records are heading to court to fight a $20 million (£13.3 million) lawsuit filed against them by her former manager and boyfriend - after a New York judge refused to dismiss the case.
Douglas 'Biggs' Ellison took legal action against Michele, her parents Lynette and Lemuel Payne, and label executives in June 2008, accusing them of engaging in unlawful business practices in a bid to free the star from her contracts with his firm, Four Kings Productions Inc.
He alleges he had a deal in place with Def Jam from September 2005 to produce a number of songs for Michele's debut album, I Am.
However, Ellison claims Lynette Payne ousted him as Michele's manager once she found fame "in an effort to keep the money in the family", according to the legal papers filed in New York Supreme Court.
Lawyers for the defendants moved to have the lawsuit dismissed earlier this month (Dec10), but a judge has denied the motion and ruled the case will go to trial.