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Jennifer Lopez sues her former chauffeur for $20 million

And we wonder why more celebrities don't have drivers. Jennifer Lopez has sued her former chauffeur for extortion and defamation, claiming Hakob Manoukian threatened to blab "disruptive and potentially damaging" information about her unless she paid him $2.8 million, according to court documents obtained by E! News. Perhaps Lopez is confusing the chauffeur with "American Idol," but ... she'
Jennifer Lopez.
Jennifer Lopez.Evan Agostini / AP / Today

And we wonder why more celebrities don't have drivers. Jennifer Lopez has sued her former chauffeur for extortion and defamation, claiming Hakob Manoukian threatened to blab "disruptive and potentially damaging" information about her unless she paid him $2.8 million, according to court documents obtained by E! News. 

Perhaps Lopez is confusing the chauffeur with "American Idol," but ... she's seeking at least $20 million in damages.

Jennifer Lopez sued by her former chauffeur

The former "Idol" judge alleges that an attorney representing Manoukian -- who sued Lopez, her manager Benny Medina and Marc Anthony for breach of contract in April -- demanded a $2.8 million payout, or else he would "disclose sensitive and personal information that he had allegedly overheard" while working for her.

First off, Lopez's suite states, Manoukian signed a confidentiality agreement prohibiting him from disclosing anything he heard regarding Lopez's business or her family.

Technically a countersuit to Manoukian's original complaint, Lopez's suit also denies his allegations that she didn't pay him the full salary they agreed upon or that Medina treated him poorly. 

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Lopez says that Manoukian and Medina, had a falling out last summer over the security team Medina planned to hire (it wasn't the one recommended by the chauffeur), after which the defendant became "hostile and angry" toward Medina and "plotted to retaliate" against them.

"In the furtherance of this plot, he abruptly terminated his employment with Ms. Lopez and began to threaten her," her suit states.

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For the "irreparable injury" caused her, Lopez is seeking $20 million in actual damages, as well as unspecified exemplary and punitive damages, injunctive relief preventing Manoukian from further harassing her and court costs.

A rep for Lopez has not yet returned a request for additional comment. 

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