American hip-hop star T-Pain is being sued Hits and Jams (H&J for his non appearance at a show in Guyana.

According to a story carried in the Guyana Chronicle the company filed an action on Monday, in the 17th Judicial Circuit Court, Broward County, Florida, United States (U.S.), against hip hop superstar T-Pain and Company.

The US$5M claim is for breach of a written contract, libel, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

A release from the plaintiff said T-Pain was scheduled to perform at Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) February 23 last, but cancelled the appearance after what his camp described as credible kidnapping and death threats to the singers life.

H&J said, despite several requests, the American superstar and his management team refused to provide the source of the alleged threats to the promoters and their attorney, law enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the U.S. Consulate in Guyana, to facilitate a probe.

H&J said the R&B artiste and his team merely informed them and their attorney that the threats came from a credible source that T-Pains camp trusted and who they have been dealing with in Guyana and that T-Pain has dealt with the source in the past.

After T-Pain cancelled the Guyana show, several false and incorrect reports in the international media attributed the cancellation of T-Pains appearance in Georgetown, to the promoters, Hits and Jams Entertainment.

The press releases also falsely attributed personal knowledge of the alleged telephone and e-mail threats to the promoters. The promoters do not possess any personal knowledge of the alleged threat or the credibility of the alleged threats, H&J said.

The statement said, according to the first clause of the action, for breach of contract, obtained from the local promoters, they are seeking an award of general and special damages in the above quoted amount, which is in excess of the jurisdictional limits of the Circuit Court, attorneys and Court fees, pre-judgement interest and such other relief the Court deems just and proper, against the defendants.

It added that the plaintiffs, respectfully, reserve the right to seek and assert a claim of punitive damages pursuant to the requirements of Florida Statute 768.72.

Three other causes of action, filed against the defendant, are for libel, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress, each seeking US$15,000 awards.