Rimes wants out of contract

DALLAS, Texas -- Country singer LeAnn Rimes has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to nullify a contract with Curb Records Inc. Her parents struck the deal when Rimes was 12, and now the 18-year-old Grammy winner wants to speak for herself, her attorney says.

"Her career has blossomed, something that couldn't be predicted when she was 12 years old," said her attorney, Tom Rhodus. "LeAnn simply wants to be her own person. ... and she wants to make her own deals."

Rimes is asking that Curb Records relinquish past work, publishing interests and recordings now being distributed. She also wants to be free of the 1995 contract giving Curb exclusive rights to her recordings, songs and a cut of future profits.

A deal is a deal and Rimes should abide by it, said John David, Curb's attorney.

"She has a valid and binding agreement," David said. "That is the law."

Rimes has another court case in the works. She filed a suit earlier this year asking for $7 million in earnings she alleges were stolen by her father and a former manager. Both men deny the allegations.

Copyright 2000  The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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