J Lo suing ex-husband
2006-04-11 12:18
Los Angeles - Jennifer Lopez is suing her ex-husband, claiming he demanded $5m to keep him from publishing a book containing private details about the star and their relationship.
In the lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Lopez alleged that Ojani Noa violated a confidentiality agreement by distributing the manuscript of his book to publishers, the syndicated television show The Insider reported. She is seeking a restraining order to keep the manuscript from becoming public.
A description of the manuscript appeared on January 11 in the New York Post. Lopez's lawyers contacted Noa's attorney, and Noa replied in a letter that he would continue to shop his book, the lawsuit said.
The $5m
In another letter, Noa said "that he would not agree to refrain from marketing his book unless (Lopez) paid him the sum of $5m," according to the lawsuit.
Noa's attorney, David DeRubertis, did not immediately respond to a call and e-mail message after business hours.
The confidentiality agreement stemmed from a settlement in October, when Noa dropped his lawsuit claiming Lopez fired him as manager of her Pasadena restaurant without cause. Ojani agreed not to disparage Lopez or make money off disclosure of details of their relationship, the lawsuit said.
Lopez met Noa while he worked as a waiter at a Miami restaurant. The two married in 1997 and divorced a year later. Her second marriage to choreographer Cris Judd in 2001 lasted for nine months. In 2004, she tied the knot with singer Marc Anthony.
- AP