NEW YORK, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- The former boyfriend of jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux is suing her for $1 million on claims he discovered her, groomed her for success and was dumped.
But lawyers for Peyroux's record label, Rounder, charge William Galison was "physically and verbally abusive" toward Peyroux and is merely trying to cash in on her name and reputation, the Independent reported Wednesday.
Galison denied the abuse allegations to the Independent and also took issue with the charge he was trying to cash in on his former girlfriend's fame.
"We were romantically involved. She lived with me, she was eating my food. We were romantically involved and we had an amazing act," he said. "But suddenly she stopped working with me."
Galison charges he helped Peyroux put together the demo that helped her win her contract with Rounder -- but then she dumped him and Rounder blocked him from marketing the record on his own.
The case is scheduled to be heard Sept. 28 in New York federal court.
