Ne-Yo's Alleged Absence May Cost Him

R&B singer being sued for a million bucks

R&B singer Ne-Yo and his "people" are being sued.

The lawsuit was filed by promoter Kenyohn Clark, who said the singer stood him up along with hundreds of fans. Ne-Yo failed to show up for a 2009 New Year's Eve performance in Washington State, according to Bowie and Jensen -- the Maryland based law office representing the case. Tickets for the concert reportedly ranged from $125 to $1,275.

Mike Esterman -- the singer's booking agent -- is based in Anne Arundel County, Md., which is where the trial is expected to take place.

In a company press release attorneys say the company that planned the event was left with thousands of dollars in debt.

"Ne-Yo and his booking agency are facing a $500,000 lawsuit in Anne Arundel County, MD. Kenyohn Clark of Wet Entertainment LLC in Washington State is also seeking $1 million in damages from Ne-Yo's booking agent, Mike Esterman, for not ensuring Ne-Yo's appearance and refusing to refund Wet Entertainment's $95,000 deposit. "

"Esterman told MTV News that the lawsuit is without merit, but Judge Paul Garvey Goetze, an Associate Judge for the Circuit Court of Anne Arundel County disagreed and denied Ne-Yo's motion to dismiss the suit."

Ne-Yo reportedly agreed to headline the New Year's Party in exchange for a payment of $140,000 and approximately 1,500 tickets were sold for the event. This is also not the first time the Grammy award-winning singer is slapped for a "no-show" lawsuit, according to attorneys.

"Ne-Yo settled a $700,000 lawsuit filed in January 2008 against tour promoter Rowe Entertainment after he was dropped from an R. Kelly tour in late 2007. The young singer claimed that he was dropped from the tour after just two shows because he was upstaging R. Kelly; a rep for Kelly denied that claim and maintained that the matter was a contractual issue between Ne-Yo and the promoter. Kelly was not named in the lawsuit. In March 2010 another promoter filed a $700,000 suit after the singer kept fans waiting and was a no-show at a concert, not once but twice. This suit was filed in Atlanta's Fulton Superior Court."

The trial in Ne-Yo's latest lawsuit is expected to start later this month.

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