Lady Gaga hits back at lawsuit

Lady Gaga in Auckland

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MICHAEL BRADLEY Zoom

VISUAL FEAST: Lady Gaga performed at Vector Arena in 2010.

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Lady Gaga is firing back at a music producer who claims he launched her career and is suing her for US$30.5 million (NZ$43.2 million).

Her lawyer said in a court filing the agreement at the heart of the suit was "unlawful".

Song writer and music producer Rob Fusari has filed the lawsuit in Manhattan against the Grammy Award-winning performer. He said his protege and former girlfriend, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, ditched him as her career soared.

The lawsuit said they co-wrote songs such as Paparazzi and Beautiful, Dirty, Rich. Fusari also said he came up with her stage name and helped get her record deal.

According to the lawsuit, Lady Gaga and Fusari's relationship turned romantic and then became a business partnership in May 2006, when they created a joint venture called Team Love Child LLC to promote her career. Fusari's share was 20 per cent.

But Lady Gaga lawyer Charles Ortner wrote in his response that the arrangement was "structured in such a way as to mask its true purpose -  to provide to the defendants unlawful compensation for their services as unlicensed employment agents".

Lady Gaga won two Grammys in January: best dance recording, for Poker Face, and best electronic/dance album, for The Fame.

She played two shows in Auckland last week.

- AP