CNN Anchor Laura Coates Sued For $200,000 After Allegedly Screwing Over Her Former Managers
CNN anchor Laura Coates is being sued by her former managers who claim she screwed them out of thousands of dollars.
According to the lawsuit obtained by RadarOnline.com, LopezTalent is accusing The Laura Coates Show star of breaching her contract with the management company, claiming Coates "abruptly and improperly terminated" their agreement and is refusing to pay what is allegedly owed to them.
The owner of LopezTalent -- Josanne Lopez -- is also listed as a plaintiff.
The New York-based management company claims, "Just days after Defendant secured a $600,000.00 advance on a book publishing deal and mere months before she was expected to sign an upgraded hosting contract with Sirius XM Radio Inc. (“Sirius XM”), Defendant abruptly and improperly terminated the Agreement and has refused to pay Ms. Lopez for her services."
"By these actions, Defendant has materially breached the Agreement," the documents read.
According to Lopez, she began working with Coates in the fall of 2015 -- prior to landing her spot on CNN.
Lopez claims it was "especially challenging" to help Coates start her hosting career since Laura's experience included radio and not television.
"Through her existing relationships, however, Ms. Lopez secured appearances for Defendant on several networks and streaming platforms, including CNN, MSNBC, Huffington Post Live and TV One," the lawsuit states.
Lopez claims she "coached" Coates on various things like "how to prepare for these television spots" and "how to formulate content and how to succinctly answer questions."
The talent manager also claims that she "negotiated Defendant’s first contract with CNN as an on-air legal contributor" in 2016.
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In April 2017, Coates and Lopez allegedly entered into a talent management agreement, which stated, LopezTalent would be the “sole and exclusive personal manager to provide advice, counsel, and direction in the development and enhancement of [Defendant’s] professional career in the entertainment field.”
According to the lawsuit, their initial term of the agreement was allegedly good until April 1, 2020, and "was automatically renewed for an additional three-year period to April 1, 2023."
Lopez says Coates is required to give her 10% of “any and all” of her gross income earned within the entertainment industry."
The agreement may be terminated during the term by providing Lopez "with thirty (30) days prior written notice of such termination,” according to the lawsuit.
Lopez claims Coates salary "nearly doubled" when she signed with CNN for her role of Senior Legal Analyst in March of 2020.
In August 2020, Laura informed Lopez she had secured a $600,000.00 book advance with a major publishing company.
This was allegedly done "without Ms. Lopez’s knowledge and in violation of the Agreement."
"Defendant notified Ms. Lopez mere days after securing the book deal that she no longer wanted to continue their professional relationship and attempted to terminate the Agreement," according to the lawsuit.
Lopez says Coates has failed to pay her the 10% of what she's earned with the book deal and her agreements with Sirius XM and CNN.
Lopez is suing Coates for $200,000, plus interest accrued.