14 DAY TRIAL // Country music star Garth Brooks is being sued by his former partner, Lisa Sanderson, who worked for him for no less than 20 years. In documents obtained by TMZ, she claims he’s a fraud and a cheat, a horrible person and a megalomaniac who sabotaged his own career.
Though Brooks’ camp has already issued a denial to all the claims made in the lawsuit, they will undoubtedly sully his reputation.
Sanderson is adamant that Brooks is the exact contrary of the man he poses as.
“Although Brooks passes himself off as ‘a humble and highly principled everyman’ – he's actually a ‘paranoid, angry, deceitful and vindictive man who will turn against those closest to him on a dime’,” TMZ writes of the lawsuit.
“Sanderson alleges she was a successful TV producer whom Brooks lured to jump start his TV and movie career. But she claims Brooks was his own worst enemy, killing deals with Disney, Fox and others by making ridiculous demands,” adds the same media outlet.
She even goes on to mention two projects that would have helped him become a huge star and which he turned down because his ego couldn’t stand playing second fiddle to anyone or anything.
Brooks was offered a minor role in the blockbuster “Saving Private Ryan” but he turned it down because he wanted to be the sole leading man and not have to share “the limelight with Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, and Edward Burns.”
According to the same documents, he also turned down a villain role in “Twister” because he thought the tornado might be stealing his thunder.
Perhaps even more upsetting for Sanderson, Brooks lied to her about the kind of money he made so that he didn’t have to pay her her due.
“As for Sanderson, she says Brooks screwed her in the salary, bonus and profits department, allegedly lying to her about the pot of gold she'd get if she stuck around,” TMZ writes.
Sanderson is seeking punitive damages and $425,000 (€325,047) in unpaid bonuses and salary.