Shakira’s fate saved by the court

LOS ANGELES: The court is probably the second-most popular site for spotting Hollywood stars after Universal Studios in LA. Lately, famous singers like Rihanna and Justin Bieber, all have managed to land a court’s notice for some reason or the other. And it seems like even the sassy, Tango diva, Shakira, wasn’t spared.

Shakira’s ex-boyfriend, Antonio de la Rua, had recently filed three lawsuits against the Colombian crossover star seeking a ‘partnership’ interest in her income. However, the singer breathed a sigh of relief as all three of the lawsuits were dismissed by the Los Angeles superior judge.

“I am very grateful that the courts are not allowing these groundless lawsuits to proceed. I have moved on in my life and could not be happier now. I hope this harassment will now come to an end,” said Shakira in a statement, reported eonline.com.

Shakira’s ex had filed the $100million lawsuit on April 12 in LA claiming that he built the singer’s brand and was the brain behind her hits Hips Don’t Lie and Waka Waka. He had initially filed a $250million lawsuit against the singer in New York, last November.



In the California proceedings, Shakira’s lawyers filed a motion to dismiss on March 28, maintaining that the court did not have jurisdiction because Shakira and de la Rua are Colombian and Argentine citizens, respectively.

They also noted that she and her ex-boyfriend had signed a “prenuptial-type agreement applicable to unmarried couples” in 2006, in which they “expressly manifested their wish to conserve the totality of their past, current and future assets, separately”.

A Swiss judge, ruling in the case that de la Rua filed in Geneva, held that the 2006 agreement “decisively” compelled the conclusion that Shakira and her ex were never legal partners.

“In a 15-page, well-reasoned opinion the Swiss court dismissed all of Mr de la Rua’s claims that he was entitled to any participation in Shakira’s past, current or future business, brand or assets, including future income,” said the singer’s attorney, Ezequiel Camerini, in a statement.

Shakira, who gave birth to her son Milan, with boyfriend Gerard Pique, in January this year, is currently enjoying motherhood.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5^th, 2013.

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