Ozuna settlement at center of $470K legal fee lawsuit
Puerto Rico attorney Roberto Sueiro del Valle has filed a lawsuit in Bayamón Superior Court alleging breach of contract and contractual fraud against Dímelo Vi LLC, VP Records Inc., VP Entertainment Inc. and music executive Vicente Saavedra-Irizarry, seeking payment of contingent legal fees tied to prior litigation involving urban music artist Juan Carlos Ozuna.
According to the complaint, Sueiro agreed in 2023 to represent Saavedra and his companies in a lawsuit against Ozuna over alleged unpaid management compensation. The representation was structured as a contingency arrangement, under which Sueiro would be paid a percentage of any recovery obtained through settlement or litigation.
Sueiro alleges that the contingency agreement was documented through email exchanges, text messages and draft contracts, and was repeatedly acknowledged by Saavedra and his representatives.
“This action arises from the breach of a contingent fee agreement,” the complaint states, alleging that Sueiro was not paid despite the defendants’ receipt of a settlement valued at about $3.8 million, along with 15% of revenue from certain albums.
The lawsuit outlines a timeline beginning in early 2023, when Sueiro claims Saavedra instructed him to pursue claims against Ozuna following years of unpaid management work. The parties initially agreed to a 10% contingency if negotiations were successful, according to the complaint, before authorizing litigation after communications with Ozuna broke down.
Sueiro alleges that the fee structure later evolved. A revised professional services agreement provided for a 20% contingency if the case settled before discovery and 33% if discovery commenced.
On Oct. 20, 2023, the complaint alleges, a final agreement was reached during an in-person meeting with Ricardo Casanova, who at the time served as Saavedra’s adviser and chief financial officer. Casanova allegedly contacted Saavedra by phone during the meeting, informed him of the agreed terms and received his approval.
Sueiro claims his work included drafting pleadings, handling discovery, conducting depositions and negotiating a settlement that was reached during Ozuna’s deposition in November 2023.
“Undoubtedly, the deposition that Sueiro took from Ozuna was what caused that the parties reached an agreement that same day,” the complaint states.
Following the settlement, Sueiro alleges that Saavedra congratulated him and acknowledged the payment obligation. The complaint cites a text message sent on Nov. 28, 2024, that allegedly read, “Sueiro, thank you for everything. I thank God for you,” accompanied by a white heart emoji.
Sueiro claims that despite repeated collection efforts between January and August 2025, payment was delayed through shifting explanations, including assertions that settlement funds had been used to satisfy tax obligations. The complaint alleges that the defendants repeatedly acknowledged the debt while failing to pay it in full.
On July 16, 2025, Sueiro and Saavedra allegedly met in person and renegotiated the contingency fee, reducing it from 30% to 15%. According to the complaint, Saavedra acknowledged a total obligation of $570,000, representing 15% of the $3.8 million settlement, plus 15% of future royalties tied to Ozuna’s albums.
Sueiro alleges that only $100,000 was paid, leaving an outstanding balance of $470,000.
The lawsuit accuses the defendants of intentionally avoiding the execution of formal written agreements while inducing Sueiro to continue providing legal services.
“Such conduct reveals a premeditated strategy to avoid the formalization of the agreements,” the complaint alleges.
Sueiro further claims the conduct constitutes fraud, asserting that it was designed to “deny the existence of the contingency agreement and evade the obligation to pay the agreed sum” after the defendants benefited financially.
The complaint seeks damages exceeding $940,000, punitive damages under Puerto Rico’s Civil Code, payment of future royalties, interest, costs and attorney’s fees. It also seeks to hold Saavedra personally liable, alleging that he “directed, authorized and deliberately participated” in the alleged fraudulent conduct.
