The road to stardom is paved with those who get left behind along the way and Stefani Germanotta (aka Lady Gaga) is being sued for $30 million by her ex-boyfriend, record producer, Rob Fusari. In a suit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court yesterday, Fusari’s lawyer Robert Meloni said:

He discovered her. It was his songs and productions and connections that got her her first deal.

In addition to his claim that he came up with the name Lady Gaga, after a spell check on his phone converted the message Radio Gaga, to her now infamous moniker, the suit refers to the fact that Fusari co-wrote several of the songs that led to a deal with Interscope Records. The songs they collaborated on, which include, “Beautiful”, “Dirty, Rich” and “Paparazzi” all went to become hit singles on her breakout first album, The Fame. Although the relationship ended in 2007, Fusari claims he is owed 15-20% ownership of her earnings. To date, he says he has only received one check that amounted to $209,000.

[New York Post]