Grammy Award nominee Chrisette Michele is caught in the middle of a multi-million dollar lawsuit between her former manager and her new record label. Douglas “Biggs” Ellison, CEO of Four Kings Productions Inc, who formerly represented the star, claims that Island Def Jam Music Group ’stole’ the singer from his books. Ellison- Lynette and Lemuel Payne – for the move, claiming they conspired with the Island Def Jam Music Group A+R department to break the artist’s exclusive contract with Four Kings Productions.

“As soon as the artist’s mother saw that Chrisette was receiving money, 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.”

A rep for Chrisette Michele says: “(We are hoping the lawsuit 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.”