Steven Tyler Slams Former Managers In ‘American Idol’ Pay Raise Lawsuit

Former American Idol judge Steven Tyler said today that he “very much wanted to end the relationship” with the ex-managers that are now suing his lawyer. The legal declaration (read it here) and increased war of words from the Aerosmith frontman came Monday in response to an $8 million lawsuit Kovac Media Group/Tenth Street Entertainment filed October 11 against Dina LaPolt. In that suit, Kovac claims that LaPolt ruined Tyler’s chances to get a big raise on Idol — costing them commissions and their client. But Tyler, who is not named in the initial suit, says otherwise: “It is an understatement to say that I was very unhappy with the services and conduct of Allen Kovac. Among other things, he was disrespectful and rude to my business associates, insulted and verbally abused my fiancé, my lawyer, my family, my assistants, and my accountants,” he said in the declaration filed in LA Superior Court. Tyler announced in July that he was leaving American Idol after two seasons.

“This lawsuit is nothing more than Kovac’s desperate attempt to exact revenge for his loss of one valuable management client, mega famous rock star and television personality Steven Tallarico p/k/a Steven Tyler (“Tyler”), and his fear of losing a second, a renowned rock band, Motley Crue,” says an anti-SLAPP motion (read it here) that LaPolt’s lawyers also filed today. “Kovac has no one to blame for his troubles but himself, yet he is intent on seeking to harm and publicly embarrass Defendants Dina LaPolt and LaPolt Law, P.C. (collectively, “LaPolt”), and to interfere with her relationships with her clients,” the motion adds.

LaPolt’s lawyers are seeking a hearing on January 14 to have Kovac’s suit tossed out. They also want to be awarded fees and costs from the action. Christine LePera, Bradley Mullins and Christina Djordjevich of the NYC offices of Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp as well as LA’s Eric German are representing LaPolt.