Jennifer Lopez 'sues former driver for $20million' amid claims of extortion and blackmail

Jennifer Lopez is suing her former driver for $20million, according to new reports.
The singer claims in a countersuit against Hakob Manoukian he attempted to extort her for $2.8million after he was forced to resign late last year.
In legal documents obtained by TheWrap.com, Lopez claims Manoukian threatened to blackmail her by revealing 'sensitive and personal' information he had obtained about the star while on the job.

Counter-claims: Jennifer Lopez, pictured performing in Panama on June 14, claims her former driver threatened to blackmail her

The documents, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, content Manoukian was released from his role as head of security and Lopez' personal driver, and that shortly thereafter, on October 3, 2011, his former attorney 'made written and oral demands that unless Manoukian was paid $2.8M, he would disclose sensitive and personal information that he had allegedly heard while driving Ms. Lopez.'

 

The demands were in violation of Manoukian's confidentiality agreement, in which he was barred from disclosing information about his employer, according to the documents.
Lopez alleged Manoukian engaged in extortion, attempted extortion, breach of oral contract and breach of written contract in the suit.

Power players: Lopez, pictured in May with manager Benny Medina - also named in the initial suit filed by Hakob Manoukian, not pictured

She asks for damages 'in no event less than $20,000,000,' according to TheWrap.
The cross-complaint is in response to a filing by Manoukian, who earlier this year sued Lopez and her manager, Benny Medina, for fraud, breach of contract and wrongful termination.
Manoukian is seeking compensatory and general damages and overtime compensation.
According to TMZ.com, Manoukian claims he started driving for J.Lo and Marc Anthony in 2005 and that 'over time they loved him so much, they convinced him to shut down his company and work exclusively as her personal Head of Security and Transportation.'

Making an exit: Jennifer pictured departing an SUV in Pasadena, California in December - two months after her driver was allegedly let go from his post

Hakob claims J.Lo agreed to pay him more than $200,000 per year.
But according to the suit, things went south when Lopez began filming What to Expect When You're Expecting last year, when Manoukian claims he was forced to spend time with Medina.
The driver claims the high-powered manager 'hated his guts from the start... claiming Benny would often rip him for the way he dressed, cussed him out in public and told him he could not speak English well enough,' according to TMZ.
He contends this caused Lopez to demote him.
A representative for Lopez has not yet responded to MailOnline's request for comment.