Man Sues R. Kelly, Claims Attack

A man describing himself as a "mentor and guide" to R. Kelly since he was a teenager is suing the singer, alleging that he attacked him and reneged on an agreement to pay him for a song idea.

In a suit filed Wednesday, Henry "Love" Vaughn says he's worked for Kelly off and on for years.

The suit says that in February he went to Kelly's suburban Olympia Fields home to watch a basketball game and that one of Kelly's other employees became "verbally abusive." It goes on to allege that Kelly, 39, and others dragged him to the basement, attacked him and held him against his will.

Olympia Fields police investigated the alleged attack but decided not to file charges, said Cmdr. James Keith.

The suit also alleges that the song "Step in the Name of Love" was Vaughn's brainchild and that Kelly reneged on a promise to give him half the proceeds from the song.

In a statement Wednesday, a representative of Kelly's characterizes Vaughn as a "disgruntled former employee and hanger-on" who is using the lawsuit to extort money from the singer.

"In fact, his lawsuit is a pathetic collection of half-truths, distortions, and outright lies," the statement says.

Vaughn's suit seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages and court costs.