Jennifer Lopez has lost a key round in her ongoing legal battle with a former driver. A judge has dismissed the actress/singer’s $20 million extortion lawsuit against former chauffeur Hakob Manoukian.
Lopez, 42, had filed the extortion and defamation countersuit against Hakob Manoukian, after he threatened to leak “disruptive and potentially damaging” information unless she paid him $2.8 million.
At the time Lopez screamed extortion, the two were already involved in another lawsuit. Manoukian sued Lopez, her manager Benny Medina and ex-husband Marc Anthony in April 2012 for breach of contract. Manoukian began driving Lopez occasionally in 2004, but only worked as Lopez’s personal chauffeur for one month in 2011.
The driver likely overheard a lot about Lopez’s relationship with boytoy Casper Smart, 25, whom she started dating in 2011 following her divorce from Anthony.
When Manoukian threatened to spill these “disruptive and potentially damaging” secrets to the media, Lopez filed the extortion suit. Manoukian’s attorney then filed a motion to dismiss the countersuit, claiming Lopez was trying to punish him for filing a legitimate employment lawsuit against her.
A judge has now agreed with Manoukian, and J.Lo’s extortion claim has been dismissed. His original breach of contract lawsuit against the mogul is still pending.
This has not been a good year for Lopez and former employees. In November, a German maid claimed Lopez had her fired after she asked for an autograph. Lopez denied the report, stating to TMZ, “C’mon thought you knew me better than this.. Would never get anyone fired over an autograph.”
A TMZ source clarified the situation, alleging the maid had “barged into the room unannounced … and the singer’s security immediately gave her the boot out of concern for the singer’s safety.”
The singer is currently wrapping up her “Dance Again” word tour with Enrique Iglesias and is set to hit the studio for a new album in 2013.
