R. Kelly seeks $3.4 million from tour promoter

Monday, October 6, 2008

In this June 13, 2008 file photo, R&B singer R. Kelly leaves the Cook County Criminal Court Building in Chicago during jury deliberations in his child pornography trial. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, file)

By The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- R. Kelly has won a $3.4 million award against his former tour promoter and is asking a Los Angeles judge to help him collect.

R. Kelly Touring, which represents the singer, filed court documents on Monday seeking a judge's confirmation of the award an arbitrator granted against Georgia-based Rowe Entertainment last month.

Kelly's company claimed that Rowe Entertainment and owner Leonard Rowe failed to pay him in full for shows scheduled for late last year and early 2008. An arbitrator agreed with Kelly's claims. Documents show Rowe disputed the arbitration, but did not offer any defense during a recent hearing.

An after-hours phone message left for Rowe's attorney in Atlanta was not returned Monday.

Kelly won three Grammys in 1997 for the song "I Believe I Can Fly," but is known for his sexually charged music. He was acquitted earlier this year of child pornography charges and is scheduled to release a new album before year's end.

Singer Ne-Yo recently won a $700,000 judgment against Rowe after he sued because he was dropped from Kelly's tour after only two shows.

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