More managers taking their former clients to court now, as Seal, real name Henry Olusegun Adeola Samuel, is being sued over claims by his former manager John Wadlow that the singer owes him money. Seal is contesting the action, which claims that Wadlow is "entitled to unpaid commission on Seal's earnings from his first two albums", in accordance with a 1995 agreement.
Mr Wadlow's QC, Ian Mill, called the action "essentially an accounting claim", and explained how Seal met Wadlow in 1987 when he was still an unknown. "At this point Seal was an undiscovered singer and songwriter and had not attracted any interest from record companies or publishers," he said.
Seal, meanwhile, says that according to the aforementioned 1995 settlement agreement, and a management agreement from 1990, his former manager is not entitled to commission on earnings from his first two eponymous albums. In court, the singer explained that he had regarded Mr Wadlow as a "father figure" adding that he was "someone I trusted, liked very much and respected".
The judge, Mr Justice Gray, will deal only with the issue of liability in the trial; if he rules in Wadlow's favour, the sum of money to be paid out will be decided at a later date. The hearing resumes today.