L.A. high school musical star seeks lawsuit dismissal

"High School Musical" star Vanessa Hudgens is seeking dismissal of a lawsuit by her former lawyer who claims the young singer and actress owes him 150,000 dollars, court documents showed Thursday.

Los Angeles lawyer Brian Schall filed the lawsuit last month against the 18 year-old Hudgens, alleging breach of contract and unjust enrichment by the star, who has become hot among American teenagers after playing a high school singer in the Disney Channel' s popular television movie and its sequel.

Hudgens is asking the court to dismiss the suit by arguing that she was only 16 when she signed a contract with the lawyer. A hearing on Hudgens' dismissal motion is set for Dec. 5 by the court.

Schall and Hudgens entered a contract in October 2005, and he advanced costs and expenses on her behalf in connection with her songwriting and recording career, according to court documents.

Schall says he drafted contracts for Hudgens that have helped her earn more than 5 million dollars, and Hudgens paid some of the money, but still owes him 150,000 dollars.

But court papers filed this week by Hudgens' lawyer say that California state Family Code "provides that the contract of a minor is voidable and may be disaffirmed before age 18 or within a reasonable time afterward." Hudgens earlier officially disaffirmed the contract.

Hudgens' court papers additionally state that she actually had an agreement with the law offices of Schall, but not with Schall as an individual.

Hudgens hired the Schall firm in October 2005 on representations by its attorneys that they were skilled in entertainment law, but she determined in the middle of this year that the services were "blow professional standards, resulting in a breakdown of their relationship," according to her court papers.

Source: Xinhuanet