Suit: Gospel Label Invoked 'God' Clause
United Press International
Mar 15, 2010
A New York lawsuit filed against a gospel label claims singer Isaiah D. Thomas was told he couldn't record another album because God hadn't approved it.
Attorney Chris Brown, who filed the federal lawsuit on behalf of Thomas, told the New York Post that Habakkuk Music Inc. chief April Washington-Essex invoked a "God clause" in canceling his client's contract.
"It's one of the strangest things I've ever encountered in all my years in entertainment law," Brown said.
The suit says Washington-Essex wrote to Thomas: "I have been seeking God about the timing of your next recording. To date, God has not confirmed His approval for Habakkuk Music to participate."
However, the suit claims, money more than God had to do with the decision. Habakkuk would have had to pay Thomas $30,000 in advance of his second album.
His first album, "The Greatest," sold 12,000 copies, said the suit, which seeks $500,000 in damages. The suit also claims Washington-Essex sabotaged a single Thomas put out with another label, Global Gospel Music Group, by warning radio stations they could face legal problems by playing it, the Post said.
Habakkuk Music claims Thomas was never let go from his contract and it was all a misunderstanding.
"He took the statement out of context," Washington-Essex said. "We just wanted time to strategize, but he just wanted to make his own recording."
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