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Vanessa to Lawyer: You Can't Sue Me, I Was Just a Kid!

Posted Nov 1st 2007 2:51PM by TMZ Staff

"High School Musical" cutie Vanessa Hudgens is seeking dismissal of a lawsuit filed in September, alleging she owes her attorney $150,000. Hudgens says she was only 16 when she signed the deal, so it doesn't hold up!

In his suit, attorney Brian Schall claims he helped Hudgens earn more than $5 million by advancing her funds for her songwriting and recording career. The suit says that Vanessa "has paid some, but not all, of the money owed ..."

Court papers filed Monday by Hudgens' lawyer, Evan N. Spiegel, say California's Family Code "provides that the contract of a minor is voidable and may be disaffirmed before (age 18) or within a reasonable time afterward" -- essentially, Vanessa was too young to sign the deal. The contract in question was initially signed in October of 2005, and Hudgens officially disaffirmed the contract on October 9, according to court documents. A copy of a two-paragraph letter from Hudgens to Schall nullifying their agreement is attached to her court papers, as is a copy of her birth certificate, which states that she was born December 14, 1988.

The court papers also say the agreement was with the law offices of Schall, not with Schall himself.

Documents

Vanessa's Request

Tags: vanessa hudgens, VanessaHudgens

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31. If she has no morals at this age she is not likely to develop any down the line.

It's very sad that little girls look up to her in any way, shape or form.

Posted at 4:54PM on Nov 1st 2007 by Slags should not be role models

32. You got to love her........she outwitted a lawyer!!! Way to go...............

Posted at 4:45PM on Nov 1st 2007 by jds

33. All you legal experts take note: SHE OWES THE MONEY.
American law allows minors to enter into contracts all the time, as long as the subject is legal, the terms are clear, and the terms are not oppressive.
NO state law allows a minor to say "neener neener, i don't have to pay you" just because they feel like it. There must be some cause of action under contract law, just because a contract is voidable does not mean it is void.
She will pay, and from now on nobody will do business with her except on a CASH IN ADVANCE basis.
Stupid bitch, think we got our law degrees online or something?

Posted at 4:43PM on Nov 1st 2007 by L.A. Douchenozzle, Esq.

34.
Oh Boy, another Britney in the making!!!!! Quick, somebody sterilizer her before she reproduces.

Posted at 4:43PM on Nov 1st 2007 by samiyam

35. Am I missing somethinig? What could this vapid little nobody possibly do that would be worth 5 Million bucks??

Posted at 9:57AM on Nov 2nd 2007 by Sal

36. I find it hard to believe that she doesn't have a good reason for not paying the lawyer. The lawyer had to know that he would need parental signatures before he should proceed. Maybe he did take advantage of Vanessa's young age. She's paid him some, so how much did he stand to recieve for "helping" Vanessa, how much was he charging her?

Posted at 5:00PM on Nov 1st 2007 by Missy

37. stop acting tramp!tou aint fooling us,pay up

Posted at 5:06PM on Nov 1st 2007 by Lets not be like europe

38. I'd like to give her the benefit of the doubt but it sounds like she screwed her lawyer out of his rightful payment for services rendered. If so, it just goes to show how low-class she is. First, we see nude pictures of her and now this. She's definitely a great role model for young girls. Not!

Posted at 5:06PM on Nov 1st 2007 by Victoria

39. For all those who commented without knowing the facts, I saw a copy of the papers filed by her attorney. It isn't that she refuses to pay, its that she will only pay what is reasonable instead of overinflated amounts for poor quality and minimal work. The lawyer took advantage of the kid and charged way too much. That is why there are laws protecting minors.

Posted at 5:09PM on Nov 1st 2007 by ts

40. More proof of what a low-life she is. May her career go poof soon.

Posted at 12:37AM on Nov 3rd 2007 by sean

41. She is just another girl from the trailor park who wasn't taught any morales or responsibilities. I would ask where are her parents, but obviously this is how they raised her. It's real sad that this is what Hollywood is putting out there for our children to emulate. Any self respecting and honest person pays their debts whether they want to or not. I really hope this backfires on her!

Posted at 5:13PM on Nov 1st 2007 by Tori

42. She's right--I saw this same issue resolved in "Liar, Liar."

Posted at 5:16PM on Nov 1st 2007 by Clarence Darrow

43. I'm curious who this attorney is and why he was stupid enough to enter into a contract with a minor.

One if the first things you learn in contract class is when a breach of contract claim can't be pursued. If Vanessa was a minor when she entered into it (which she was), typically the party suing for breach can't pursue the case because under law, minors don't have the ability to enter into contracts themselves.

If I learned that in the first month of law school, this attorney must be really frickin' bad at his job.

Posted at 5:20PM on Nov 1st 2007 by Callie

44. more naked pictures please.

Posted at 5:27PM on Nov 1st 2007 by celebs_driving_drunk

45. If you look at the contract attached to the attorney's lawsuit, he was trying to charge her not only 5% gross of anything she earns, but also $50k for each negotiation they did for her. So if he negotiated a 100K contract, he would take $50k, plus 5% of the gross on the 100k, leaving her with only $45k and $55k to the attorney. It is obvious why the attorney got the minor to sign the contract without parents signature. What a rip-off. The attorney is the one that is shady and overcharging.

Posted at 5:39PM on Nov 1st 2007 by ts

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