Ashanti Loses Court Battle With Producer  7/22/05

R&B beauty Ashanti has been ordered to pay $630,000 to her producer Genard Parker for breach of contract.

The Grammy winner worked with Parker in 1996 and 1997 when she lived in Long Island but later abandoned him when she became commercially successful.

Parker happily released the singer from their contract when she landed a record deal but insists she agreed to let him produce two songs on her first album for a $50,000 advance plus royalties.

The singer claimed Parker did not live up to the terms of the new deal and that his equipment was so crude, she had to sing in his bathroom.

The New York federal jury found in favour of Parker yesterday (21JUL05), but Ashanti's lawyers are convinced the decision will be overturned on appeal.

Ashanti's lawyer Harry Stokes says, "We think the jury got confused somewhat, particularly on the damages. We feel confident when this is said and done we won't have to pay out anything."

Parker's lawyer Jasmine Khalili says the verdict is a "huge victory" and adds, "They never acknowledged what he had done, it takes a jury to get a thank you."