Management Co. Sues 98 Degrees

Friday, October 13th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) â€” A management company has filed a $25 million lawsuit against 98 Degrees, saying the pop group turned off its commission spigot after the company built the band into a hot international act.

Top 40 Entertainment said in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court that 98 Degrees was ``plucked from obscurity'' by the management company.

Band lawyer John J. Rosenberg said they plan to file a counterclaim against Top 40 Entertainment and its principal officer, Paris D'Jon.

``The band's view is that they had more than ample grounds to terminate Mr. D'Jon and Top 40 as their manager,'' Rosenberg said.

According to the lawsuit, D'Jon met the four singers in October 1995 when they were unknown in the music industry. A month later, the band signed a contract with D'Jon.

D'Jon and his company financed the band, arranging recording contracts, promotional tours and TV appearances, the lawsuit alleges.

In December 1999, the band terminated its contract, even though it was required to honor the terms of the deal through October 2001, the suit says.