Yallwire News

Travis Tritt has sued his record label and its president for 10 million dollars in damages, alleging breach of contract and fraud, according to Billboard.com. Filed in federal district court, the suit names Category 5 and its president and CEO, Ray Termini of Connecticut. Tritt, who released his latest album, The Storm, earlier this year on the new independent label, contends that Termini misrepresented Category 5's skill and competence as a record company, its financial resources and its ability to honor its financial obligations. Travis claims he was denied the complete creative control as promised, and alleges the label owes him nearly 400 thousand dollars.

Last month, the New England nursing home company for which Termini serves as CEO declared bankruptcy amid a state inquiry into whether he illegally used Medicaid funds to launch the label. State officials allege the company let bills go unpaid while using company funds to launch Category 5. Termini has denied misusing Haven Healthcare money to start the label.

In response to Tritt's lawsuit, Termini emailed Country Aircheck the following statement: "It is amazing that Travis Tritt and his mental midget management would choose to read headlines and take them as the gospel. One day at a time the truth about my healthcare company is being told. It is no secret to Country radio and folks on the inside of the music profession that Travis and his manager are difficult to work with at best - his track record with radio speaks for itself. Our label is not the first to have to deal with his over-the-top ego, which is driven by a massive insecurity complex. He has cost my label a fortune and has been uncooperative from the onset. For years he sang, 'I'm gonna be somebody,' [and] it's a shame that that somebody turned out to be who he is. He has openly blamed Country radio, his past labels, just about every radio promotions person that has ever worked for him, CMT, GAC and the CMAs for his lackluster record sales and fading career. Knowing the people from all of these groups, I feel as though I am now in good company as a result of his attack."