American Idol winner Ruben Studdard is celebrating after winning a
legal battle with his former manager Ronald W Edwards.
Studdard, 27, filed suit in Birmingham, Alabama last year (05),
claiming Edwards and his firm Sez Inc had misappropriated the singer's
money and credit cards.
On Thursday (15JUN06), Jefferson County Circuit Judge Scott Vowell
awarded the 2003 Idol winner $500,000 (#270,000) to cover his losses and
$1.5 million in punitive damages.
Vowell dismissed promotions company Sez Inc from the lawsuit because it
is bankrupt.