People News

Rihanna's mother to give deposition

Jan 12, 2013, 23:01 GMT

Rihanna

Rihanna has failed to legally prevent her former accountants from speaking to her mother.

The 'Stay' singer - who is suing Berdon LLP of New York and two of their employees, who have since left the firm - for negligence that allegedly resulted in her losing millions of dollars - asked a judge to deny them a request to fly to Barbados to speak to her mother Monica Braithwaite because she signed their contract as her daughter's guardian when she was a minor.

The 24-year-old star's lawyer told the court the move was solely designed 'to inconvenience, burden and harass' her through her family, but the judge overruled the objection this week and has given the firm permission to speak to her mother, according to gossip website TMZ.com.

The firm's request to interview Monica is just one of a number filed in court as they also wish to speak to Rihanna's assistants, tour manager, lawyers and real estate agents because these people have direct knowledge of the situation.

Rihanna filed a lawsuit in Manhattan Federal Court last July seeking unspecified damages for breach of contract and a string of other problems with her financial affairs.

The suit - filed under her real name Robyn Fenty - alleges Berdon caused 'significant financial losses' between 2005 and 2010 by charging 'exorbitant' commissions from her 'Last Girl on Earth Tour' in 2010 and accused the company of mishandling her taxes by withholding more funds than necessary, leading to 'a significant losses of tax benefits' and failing to file taxes on time, causing late penalties.

Additionally, Rihanna claims she is now being audited because of the mishandling of her tax returns between 2008 and 2010.