Lady Gaga fires back: countersues producer/ex-beau Rob Fusari

The wild-styled singer responded to Fusari’s claims in a lawsuit saying he has no rights to her finances and that the contract between her and Fusari is invalid because Fusari was not a licensed talent agent.

Fusari sues Gaga
Rob Fusari sued the singer for more than $30 million on Wednesday, claiming he launched her career and came up with her stage name. He also alleges he co-wrote some of her hit songs such as ‘Paparazzi’ and ‘Beautiful, Dirty, Rich’.

In a lawsuit filed in New York City against Gaga, Furari claimed that his former girlfriend, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, ditched him as her career flourished, EW.com reports.

The 42-year-old Livingston native also claims that his relationship with the vocalist became a romantic one, and they also entered a business partnership in May 2006, when they created a joint venture called Team Love Child LLC for which his share was 20 percent.

In addition to throwing out Fusari's suit, Gaga's lawyers want him to pay damages to the ‘Bad Romance’ hitmaker for trying to take advantage of an "inexperienced performing artist."

Gaga countersues
But, New York City native Lady Gaga denies allegations and calls Fusari’s $30.5 million lawsuit unlawful.

She filed a suit of her own on Friday in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan, saying he's the one who broke the law by duping her into signing an illegal contract.

In the court filing made public Friday, the 23-year-old singer alleges the lawsuit filed by Fusari “was structured in such a way to mask its true purpose – to provide the defendants unlawful compensation for their services as unlicensed employment agents.”

Lady Gaga's lawyer, Charles Ortner, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the singer, said that Fusari and his company violated statutes, which prohibited them from "acting as employment agents without a licence and charging Lady Gaga an unlawful fee for their purported services."

Gaga’s suit seeks damages
In addition to throwing out Fusari's suit, Gaga's lawyers want him to pay damages to the ‘Bad Romance’ hitmaker for trying to take advantage of an "inexperienced performing artist."

Fusari made Lady Gaga "enter into an unlawful arrangement" when he made her sign a contract giving him rights to her future earnings, the suit says, calling his actions "predatory and financially abusive."

Fusari’s camp responds
Fusari’s lawyer, Robert S. Meloni, called the claim “ludicrous,” according to The Associated Press.

He claims, "Fusari is a PARTNER in the Team Love LLC with Gag and her father (through their company Mermaid)," AP reports. "Rob was no more of an 'agent' for her than she is a Roman Catholic nun."

Meloni also told MTV News, "The claim filed by Lady Gaga does not pass the laugh test. I assume their strategy here in response to Fusari's complaint is 'the best defense is a good offense,' with their claim being the 'offense' but it really gives 'falling on your sword' an entirely new meaning. Ms. Germanotta really should not be playing with sharp objects."

In an e-mail a rep for the singer responded, "We intend to let this play out in the courtroom, not the media."