Breaking News; popular R&B artist Sued by 6 Victims Claiming He Owes Them Over $9.9 Million Tied to 2022 Judgment Won Against Him

Several R. Kelly victims are suing the disgraced musician for millions they claim he still owes.

In a new lawsuit filed on Jan. 31, six of the singer’s alleged victims who won a $10.3 million judgment against him in 2022 claim that Kelly, along with his record label and other parties, still owe most of the sum.  was the first to report the news.

In August 2023, Kelly, who is currently in jail, was ordered to pay the plaintiffs — Lizette Martinez, Lisa Van Allen, Kelly Rodgers, Faith Rodgers, Roderick Gartell and Gem Pratts — over $5.1 million in combined compensatory damages and over $4.5 million in punitive damages, plus interest, per court records obtained by PEOPLE.

He still owes them over $9.9 million of the sum, the plaintiffs claim.

The victims filed the suit against Kelly, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, along with his former record label, Universal Music, sublabel Universal Music-Z Tunes and revenue sharing platform IndyBuild. The musician’s former manager, Donnell Russell, was also named in the lawsuit.

Kelly’s co-publishing agreement with his label ended in March 2019, but the company “remains contractually obligated to collect revenues and remit music publishing royalties” to the singer (or his “designated representative”) for all compositions delivered during the term of the agreement, the plaintiffs claim in the lawsuit.

In a statement to PEOPLE, Kelly’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, said, “This outrageous default judgment was entered contrary to court rules, legal precedent, and basic principles of fairness. A New York court conducted a hearing in Mr. Kelly’s absence and without his knowledge while he was incarcerated in Chicago, awarding a staggering $10,000,000 to plaintiffs for conduct committed by someone else.”

“A pattern has emerged from courts across the country deciding that Mr. Kelly is not entitled to the same Due Process rights as everyone else,” Bonjean continued. “It’s getting old. No court would have been that cavalier with the money of a white man. Our appeal is pending on this issue.”

The plaintiffs’ attorney, Adam Sackowitz, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Sunday, Feb. 8. Attorneys for the other defendants, meanwhile, were unable to be reached.

The victims filed the suit against Kelly, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, along with his former record label, Universal Music, sublabel Universal Music-Z Tunes and revenue sharing platform IndyBuild. The musician’s former manager, Donnell Russell, was also named in the lawsuit.

Kelly’s co-publishing agreement with his label ended in March 2019, but the company “remains contractually obligated to collect revenues and remit music publishing royalties” to the singer (or his “designated representative”) for all compositions delivered during the term of the agreement, the plaintiffs claim in the lawsuit.

In a statement to PEOPLE, Kelly’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, said, “This outrageous default judgment was entered contrary to court rules, legal precedent, and basic principles of fairness. A New York court conducted a hearing in Mr. Kelly’s absence and without his knowledge while he was incarcerated in Chicago, awarding a staggering $10,000,000 to plaintiffs for conduct committed by someone else.”

“A pattern has emerged from courts across the country deciding that Mr. Kelly is not entitled to the same Due Process rights as everyone else,” Bonjean continued. “It’s getting old. No court would have been that cavalier with the money of a white man. Our appeal is pending on this issue.”

The plaintiffs’ attorney, Adam Sackowitz, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Sunday, Feb. 8. Attorneys for the other defendants, meanwhile, were unable to be reached.