Alanis Morissette sues ex-business manager for allegedly stealing over £3 million

In papers filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, she reportedly claims that Jonathan Schwartz transferred money to his own accounts without permission.

Alanis Morissette performing with Demi Lovato (Matt Sayles/AP)

“Morissette was completely unaware of these cash transfers and had not authorised them,” the complaint says, according to the BBC.

The Ironic and You Oughta Know singer is suing him for breach of duty, fraud and negligence.

Business manager Jonathan handled Alanis’s finances between 2009 and 2016, until she dismissed him and his company, GSO Business Management, two months ago. He had apparently been evading her requests for information.

Her new business manager, Howard Grossman, then allegedly uncovered 116 suspicious withdrawals.

The legal papers say that Jonathan’s explanation for the irregularities was that he transferred money to fund an “investment” in a marijuana-growing business for Alanis, and to avoid trips to the bank because the singer “spends a lot of cash”. She denies these claims.

Alanis Morissette (David Crotty/AP)

Alanis has also claimed that Jonathan transferred $8 million (£5.5m) out of investment accounts that he “promised would never be touched”, reassuring her that was still “financially secure”.

“When I fired Jonathan Schwartz and GSO two months ago, I had no idea the extent of the misconduct,” Alanis said in a statement from her publicist.

Jonathan’s company GSO is also suing him and seeking to expel him as a member of the firm, according to the BBC.

Alanis Morissette in 1998 (Peter Jordan/PA)

An internal investigation, begun after Alanis’s new business manager confronted Jonathan, apparently revealed outstanding debts and unpaid taxes.

GSO’s complaint said: “The investigation revealed that Mr Schwartz was burning through money to sustain a lavish lifestyle, including a $50,000 (£34,700) vacation to Bora Bora and an outstanding gambling dept of $75,000 (£52,000) at a casino in the Bahamas. He also owes the US government a substantial sum for unpaid taxes.”

But the firm has disputed that Alanis did not know she was over budget, saying that several employees had made her aware on several occasions.

Allen Grodsky, litigation attorney for Alanis, told the Wall Street Journal: “We stand by every word in our complaint. This is a simple case of embezzlement and cover up. Any challenge to our complaint would be inconsistent with GSO’s complaint filed yesterday against Jonathan Schwartz.”