Jenni Rivera’s Company Sues Manager

LOS ANGELES (CN) - Jenni Rivera's manager falsely claims ownership of writings and audio interviews that belonged to the late Latina singer and actress, her company claims in court.

Jenni Rivera Enterprises accused Laura Lucio of copyright infringement in Federal Court on Oct. 1.

The company wants Lucio enjoined from publishing writings and interviews that came after Lucio was hired to write the singer's autobiography. It also wants a judge to allow law enforcement to confiscate any copies of Rivera's alleged writings or recordings.

Rivera created the writings and interviews after entering into the contract with Lucio on Dec. 10, 2007, according to the complaint.

Lucio in July filed a $10 million Superior Court complaint against Rivera's estate and family members. She claimed the company had published a book in 2013 called "Unbreakable," using her work, and also owed her royalties from her time managing the singer. That case was removed to Federal Court on July 17.

In the new lawsuit, Jenni Rivera Enterprises claims that it signed a book deal with Simon and Schuster and published "Unbreakable" in 2013. It says it plans to release more books using Rivera's writings and interviews but does not have copies of the material in its possession.

Lucio has claimed ownership of the work, and published a book called "My Crazy Life: Intimate Conversations with my friend Jenni Rivera," according to the lawsuit.

"Defendant even falsely listed herself as the author of these copyrighted works, created by Jenni Rivera and/or owned by Jenni Rivera Enterprises, in a registration of a manuscript titled 'Jenni Rivera, Mi Vida Loca [My Crazy Life] as told to Laura Lucio; with the Writer's Guild of America's Intellectual Property Registry," the lawsuit states.

Rivera was killed with six others when her private jet crashed in Iturbide, Nuevo León, Mexico, on Dec. 9, 2012. Before her death, the singer and songwriter was one of the most popular Latin singers on the planet.

Her company seeks $150,000 in damages.

It is represented by Anthony Lopez of Beverly Hills.

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