James Brown's daughters sue him for $1m in unpaid royalties

James Brown's daughters are suing their father for $1 million in back royalties and damages for 25 songs they claim they co-wrote in their childhood. Deanna Brown Thomas, who works at a South Carolina radio station, and Dr Yamma Brown Lumar, a Texas physician, say Brown has withheld royalties because of a family grudge that came about in 1998 when Thomas had her father committed to a psychiatric hospital to be treated for addiction to painkillers. The daughter’s lawyer Gregory Reed told reporters: "This is a sad scenario. They didn't want to handle it this way. After his release [from hospital] Brown vowed to the media that his daughters will never get a dime from him. He has kept his word." Reed went on to say he had a letter from Brown’s lawyer Leon Friedman admitting the girls were owed $66,000, but that Brown would pay them $198,000 it they signed over the copyrights on the songs. Neither Brown or Friedman have commented on the lawsuit as yet.