The estate of the late Rick James is suing the singer's former music publisher for allegedly continuing to enter into new contracts, despite being told its services were no longer required. The lawsuit, filed last week (ends18MAR07) at the Los Angeles Superior Court, claims Brooklyn Music Publishing is still collecting commissions from contracts agreed with firms in Europe and refuses to hand over key copyright documents and information to the estate and its new publisher, Wixen Music Publishing. The James Ambrose Johnson Jr. 1999 Trust, using the SUPERFREAK singer's real name, chose not to renew Brooklyn Music's contract after James' death in 2004, after becoming unhappy with the high expenses claimed. The trust also accuses the former publishers of failing to give back master recordings of the funk legend in addition to money received from foreign sub-publishers, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The legal file states: "These intentional acts of misconduct and conversion, wholly unauthorised by the trust, have greatly interfered with the contractual relationship between the trust and Wixen, and have made it difficult, impractical and, in certain instances, impossible for Wixen to administer the compositions and to collect revenue derived there from." The James Ambrose Johnson Jr. 1999 Trust is suing for unspecified damages and is seeking a permanent injunction against Brooklyn Music Publishing to interfere in its business.