Ruben Studdard's Former Manager Seeks Damages  3/20/05

American Idol winner Ruben Studdard's former manager Ronald Edwards is seeking $500,000 in damages after claiming the singer failed to pay his management fees. 

Edwards' court filing comes as a counterclaim to the lawsuit Studdard filed in February (05) - which alleged that Edwards and his marketing and advertising firm SEZ Inc. misused over $246,000 in the year he worked for the singer. 

The suit also accuses Edwards, who is Studdard's godfather as well as his ex-manager, of making unauthorized expenses after he was fired. However, Edwards has denied all allegations in his filing - insisting he helped Studdard many times for free before he won the reality TV show in May 2003.