Jay Z Is Suing Former Protégée Rita Ora for $2.4 Million

Just over a month since she filed her lawsuit, Roc Nation has hit Rita Ora with countersuit.

In her attempt to break away from Roc Nation previous year, Rita Ora requested a declaratory judgement, claiming the contract she signed in 2008 at the age of 18 is unenforceable and violates California law. Roc Nation’s cross-complaint, which was filed this past Friday in California Superior Court, alleges that Roc Nation “tirelessly promoted” Ora’s career, and spent more than $2.3 million promoting and recording her 2012 record, Ora – an album that was never released in the United States.

“Jay Z has personally and graciously promised Rita complete freedom from Roc Nation, the details of which are now being finalized”, he said in a statement. The contract provided the label with four “option” periods, during which she was to make the following albums.

However, it looks like things might not get too messy as Ora’s attorney, Howard King, says there is settlement in the works being arranged privately between his client and the company.

Today, in response, to the suit, Roc Nation countersued for $2.4 million.

Jay Z’s Roc Nation is suing Rita Ora according to a report by TMZ.

The lawyer said he believed Roc Nation’s new counter-lawsuit was filed “reluctantly” to meet a court deadline, and he hoped to reach a settlement before a hearing set for April 19 in Los Angeles. She says Roc Nation became more interested in signing athletes than pushing her projects. As Roc Nation’s interests diversified, there were fewer resources available and the company suffered a revolving door of executives. “Rita’s remaining supporters at the label left or moved on to other activities, to the point where she no longer had a relationship with anyone at the company”. The code says that a person can not be subject to a contract of performing personal services that goes beyond seven years from the beginning of the deal.