Man Says Ex-Partner Is Annoying Lady Gaga

CHICAGO (CN) - A man who claims to be producing Lady Gaga's next album claims his former partner has been harassing the singer and her staff and falsely claiming song rights. Paul Blair, who calls himself the "sole class A member and manager" of plaintiff DJ White Shadow, claims he kicked defendant Brian Lee out of the LLC for using drugs, lewd and offensive behavior and other disruptions.

Blair says Lee and nonparty Brian Gaynor were the class B members of DJ White Shadow, with no voting power and no right to enter into any agreement on behalf of the LCC.

Suing as DJ White Shadow, Blair claims the LLC stands to make $10 million or more through its collaboration with Lady Gaga, but Lee has been threatening the relationship.

Lee began working for DJ White Shadow and Blair in May 2010, according to the complaint.

"Blair had previously developed a relationship with Lady Gaga and Streamline Records," the complaint states. DJ White Shadow had "collaborated with Lady Gaga in writing and producing 17 of 20 songs recorded for an album to be released in May of 2011," and "in producing a song titled 'Born this Way,'" to be released this month, according to the complaint.

Blair says Lee accompanied DJ White Shadow when the group "began touring, writing, producing, and recording music throughout the United States" with Lady Gaga. But he says he sent Lee home after a week because "he (i) was repeatedly tardy for commitments, (ii) refused to follow directions or complete work, (iii) took inappropriate photographs of himself and other individuals, (iv) engaged in illegal drug use, and (v) made lewd and offensive remarks during recording sessions. As a result, after approximately one week on tour, he was sent home."

After Lee was fired, in October, he "began a concerted effort to undermine the business interests of DJWS," according to the complaint.

Blair claimed authorship rights to DJ White Shadow's creative works, and "stated in words or substance to EMI Publishing, and a music producer named Benny Blanco, that he wrote and produced certain songs for Lady Gaga, which is untrue," the complaint states. Blair says Lee also refused to return some audio mixes that belong to DJ White Shadow.

Blair claims Lee has "compromised" DJ White Shadow's association with Lady Gaga and Streamline by his repeated harassment, including:

"Making numerous and repeated harassing telephone calls to agents of Streamline ...;

"Attempting to contact Lady Gaga at an establishment owned by Luc Carl, who is

in a romantic relationship with Lady Gaga, where he made false remarks about

DJWS and Blair, and where he harassed Mr. Carl and members of his staff;

"Surreptitiously gaining entrance to a Lady Gaga concert in Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania by using an old security badge, and refusing to leave the premises until he was removed by security;

"Making numerous, harassing telephone calls to members of Lady Gaga's security team; ...

"Obtaining and using Lady Gaga's personal communication information to

Transmit messages to her in violation of the Lady Gaga Confidentiality Agreement without authorization, which subjects DJWS to legal liability; and

"Publicizing his involvement with Lady Gaga through social media, including Twitter, without authorization, which subjects DJWS to legal liability."

Blair says DJ White Shadow's association with Lady Gaga is its "most significant economic opportunity. ... Indeed, the expected revenue from DJWS's involvement in the Lady Gaga Album is in excess of ten million dollars."

Lady Gaga is not a party to the lawsuit.

DJ White Shadow wants Lee restrained and enjoined from claiming authorship to any DJWS works "until ultimate resolution of the parties' dispute through mediation and/or arbitration;" from usurping commercial opportunities belonging to DJWS; and from contacting Lady Gaga or Streamline Records or their staffs "until ultimate resolution of the parties' dispute through mediation and/or arbitration."

DJWS is represented by Elvis Gonzalez.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: After Courthouse News posted this story, and took it down, Lee's attorney, William Ransom, sent Courthouse News this statement: "Mr. Lee believes the allegations of the lawsuit, in particular the baseless allegations of drug use, harassment and lewd behavior, are merely an attempt by his former business partner to force him into an unfavorable settlement of their business dispute.")

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