TOOTS Hibbert, frontman of legendary ska/rock steady group Toots and the Maytals, is claiming a former manager exploited his ignorance for financial gains.

According to American celebrity tracker TMZ, the Monkey Man singer is suing his former American manager Marc-Antoine Chetata, whom he hired in 1994.

The suit alleges the 68 year-old performer was duped into signing an agreement which gave Chetata 50 per cent ownership of his songs.

Hibbert is asking for US$1.25 million in damages as well as full ownership of rights to his songs. It was not clear which songs are part of the suit.

Andrea Davis, Hibbert’s business manager, confirmed the singer’s legal action.

“It is a publishing issue and a portion of his catalogue is involved,” she told the Sunday Observer.

She said Hibbert and Chetata’s business ties were brief but had serious implications.

“It was a short relationship with a far-reaching impact,” she said.

Hibbert returned to Jamaica last week, having cut his American acoustic tour short due to injury. He was struck on the head by a bottle thrown by a drunken fan while performing at the Dominion Riverrock Festival in Virginia.

He received several stitches at the VCU Medical Centre. The fan was subsequently arrested and charged by police.

Davis says Hibbert is at home in St Andrew recuperating.

“He is consulting with his doctors to ensure he recovers properly,” she said.

Toots and The Maytals are known for classic songs such as 54-46, Bam Bam, Pressure Drop and Country Road.

Several of his songs including 54-46, Pressure Drop and Monkey Man have been covered or used in television commercials during the past decade.

English singer Amy Winehouse is among the artistes who covered Monkey Man.

Toots and the Maytals have been reggae’s top touring act for close to 10 years. They won a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 2005 with True Love.