Couple Failed to Book T-Pain, Suit Says

KNOXVILLE (CN) - A couple claiming to have access to rapper T-Pain took $15,000 from local business owners with a promise to book the star for a concert, but then pocketed the money and blamed it on the Grammy-winning artist and producer, according to an action in Knox County Court.

In October 2007, James Brown, Sr. and James Brown, Jr., owners of Mr. Cool Air Conditioning, Transmission and Brake Service in Knoxville, agreed to share the costs of promoting a rap concert at Knoxville Civic Auditorium with Charles and Diane Bowens. The prospect of booking T-Pain to headline the show came up, and all parties agreed that the artist's participation would make the event a success, the complaint says.

The Bowens allegedly said they could book T-Pain with a deposit of $15,000, which they got from the Browns.

The Browns say they soon discovered that the Bowens had not booked T-Pain, but had kept the $15,000 for themselves. To hide the theft, the Bowens created a fraudulent cashier's check and fake emails from T-Pain's company, the lawsuit claims.

When confronted, the Bowens claimed that T-Pain had kept the deposit and failed to perform, according to the complaint.

The Browns seek $134,000 in actual damages and $200,000 in punitive damages. They are represented by Stephen Burroughs.

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