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David Ehrlich, the former manager of rising pop artist—and one-time American Idol contestant—Lauren Spencer-Smith, is suing UMG Recordings, Island Records, and Republic Records for $45 million, citing libel, slander, and tortious interference with contract.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday morning in New York, claims that Island-Republic made “defamatory, false, and malicious statements” about Ehrlich to Spencer-Smith, including that he engaged in “unlawful behavior with women by taking photos of them” and “unlawful harassment towards women.” Ehrlich, the suit claims, subsequently suffered economic and non-economic damages, as well as “substantial harm” to his reputation.
Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that Spencer-Smith prematurely ended her contract with Ehrlich’s firm, David M. Ehrlich & Associates, based on Island-Republic’s “intentional acts and misconduct.” In doing so, the suit alleges, the New York-based firm lost “several prospective business relations.”