Lady Gaga Sued for $35 Million

Lady Gaga's former boyfriend and producer, Rob Fusari, is suing the trendsetting artist for more than $30 million, claiming that he played a role in her success but was unable to profit from it when their relationship ended.

The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday in the New York State Supreme Court by Fusari, stating that he had a major role in transforming then Stefani Germanotta into the sensational Lady Gaga.

When Gaga and Fusari's romance ended, he was not paid his producer fees and did not get royalties on music sales. Gaga and Fusari met in 2006 through a mutual friend, and after hearing her voice, encouraged her to try different musical genres. Fusari even claims he helped her discover the name Lady Gaga.

According to ABC News:

"One day when Fusari addressed a cell phone text to Germanotta under the moniker 'Radio Ga Ga' his cell phone's spell check converted "Radio" to 'Lady.'"

In 2007, Gaga and Fusari's personal and business relationship ended, as the stress of working together became too intense. Fusari says his 2007 contract entitles him to 20 percent of proceeds, a portion of merchandising, and the royalties and producer fees from previously working with Gaga.

Fusari has worked with Will Smith, Destiny's Child, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Gaga has sold over 10 million albums and recently won two Grammy awards.