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Rebecca Ferguson sued by former managers


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Old 11-09-2012, 22:38
maninthequeue
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Rebecca Ferguson sued by former managers
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19558624

Soul singer Rebecca Ferguson is being sued for breach of contract by her former managers.

The X Factor runner-up split from Modest Management Ltd in June.

She later described them as "vile" on Twitter, saying they had forced her to conduct interviews after she collapsed with exhaustion.

Modest has filed a High Court writ, asking for a declaration that the star unlawfully ended her contract and seeking 20% of her future earnings.

In legal papers filed in London, a lawyer for the company said Ferguson initially signed a five-year management contract "on or about 15 October 2010".

Ian Mill QC contends she then sought to terminate the relationship in June 2012, citing an email from the singer as proof.

"I am really unhappy with how I have been treated by you over the last couple of months and how miserable I have become," the email is quoted as saying.
"The deterioration of my health has not been relevent [sic] to you until this week when it reached another low point.
"I have lost all faith and trust in you as managers so I have no option but to terminate our working relationship with immediate effect."

The company's lawyers then wrote to Ferguson on 25 June 2011, saying it accepted her "renunciation and repudiation of the management agreement".
According to the court papers, Ferguson wrote back saying she "did not accept" this interpretation of events.

Modest is now seeking a ruling on the matter, as well as damages and a percentage of Ferguson's earnings during the remaining term of the contract.

The dispute first came to light on 13 July when Ferguson tweeted a series of messages voicing her anger at the company, which also represents fellow X Factor recording artists Leona Lewis, Olly Murs, Little Mix and One Direction.

She claimed they had "watched me collapse [then] gave me a can of Coke and said now go do your interview."
"I need to see my children you need to give me time off vile!!!!" she continued.
A further tweet added: "Be nice to have a nice new responsible caring management team!! Who care for me and my childrens well being #seeyouincourt!!!"

Ferguson is no longer listed as a client on the company's website.

She played Radio 2's Live in Hyde Park concert on Sunday and has been tipped as a potential nominee for this year's Mercury Prize.

Considering this is currently the most read story on BBC's website, I'm quite surprised DS has not yet published this, I wonder why?

What do you think of Modest Management and how they treat X-Factor alumni?
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Old 11-09-2012, 23:47
Reven
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Wow.
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Old 12-09-2012, 00:03
Aries_123
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This is really messed up, poor rebecca
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Old 12-09-2012, 00:26
Luke_Fawcett
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Wow I feel sorry for her :/
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Old 12-09-2012, 00:54
abrightyz
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i hope this will be resolved soon...
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Old 12-09-2012, 06:27
Chi
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I hope she has got good legal advice because she is up against heavyweights!
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Old 12-09-2012, 06:32
FanFromHolland
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Modest are not great management tbh

But i've got one question going through my head atm

How can they sue her if they accepted the fact that se wanted to end the contract? Don't both sides need to agree in some way? Or am I mistaking/misreading?
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Old 12-09-2012, 07:34
Postbox
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How can they sue her if they accepted the fact that se wanted to end the contract? Don't both sides need to agree in some way? Or am I mistaking/misreading?
They may be suing for something besides the contract ending, such a the whole vile comment damaging their reputation. Going public and calling them vile wasn't a very smart move, she'd have been better to let someone else leak the story.
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Old 12-09-2012, 07:39
Carly_Thompson
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I think Rebecca had every right to leave her management if they weren't concerned about her as a person but rather saw her as a product. However I do think she could have handled it better, such as not being so blunt and open on Twitter. Not very professional, I think disputes being artists/labels/managements should be kept between the people directly involved.
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Old 12-09-2012, 07:59
radiofan1
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I think she is right to terminate the contract if they are treating her badly.Some management companies are parasites. I hope she finds a good lawyer.
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Old 12-09-2012, 09:23
Fatfeatheryowl
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Sad it's got to the point of lawyers. Hope it all works out OK in the end.
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Old 12-09-2012, 11:42
getty
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All x-factor acts who sign with Cowell are with Modest, so they know how hard they're going to have to work from the get go, you just can't decide to leave because you're tired or overworked.
A contract is a contract and she should have negotiated not just walked away.
I actually think One Direction need to get someone on their case soon too, they seem to be being totally worked into the ground.
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Old 12-09-2012, 12:24
Floh
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All x-factor acts who sign with Cowell are with Modest, so they know how hard they're going to have to work from the get go, you just can't decide to leave because you're tired or overworked.
A contract is a contract and she should have negotiated not just walked away.
I actually think One Direction need to get someone on their case soon too, they seem to be being totally worked into the ground.
Louis Walsh bought Jedward out of their contract with Modest.
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