Beyonce And Mother Sued For $1.5 Million

NEW YORK (July 21, 2006)– Beyonce Knowles and her mother, Tina Knowles, have been sued for $1.5 million by a former business associate who claims they neglected to compensate him for securing a deal involving their House of Dereon clothing line.Greg Walker, CEO of Icon Entertainment, filed the breach of contract lawsuit Wednesday in New York State’s Supreme Court. He said the mother-daughter duo, who design the street-chic collection, hired him in August 2003 to help land endorsement and licensing opportunities.According to Walker, he brokered a $15 million deal for the 24-year-old singer and her mother to create the clothing line with Wear Me Apparel, Corp., a clothing manufacturer. So far, he claims he’s collected only $25,000 from Knowles’ mother.“Beyonce and Tina Knowles agreed on the terms of our business relationship, but have failed to properly compensate me for reasons unknown to me,” Walker said in a statement. “I just want to receive my fair share and move on with my business.”When contacted by The Associated Press, a spokesman for House of Dereon declined to comment on the lawsuit.Walker is also suing Wear Me Apparel for neglecting to pay the remainder of his fee. The company has paid him $85,000, he claims.Corey Silverstein, the Wear Me Apparel’s executive vice president, declined to comment.