Movie mogul Tyler Perry is being sued for the alleged theft of a plot that he based his 2012 film "Good Deeds," on according to Yahoo.
Terri Donald, who writes under the name TLO Red'ness, said the recently released Perry film is based on her 2007 book, "Bad Apples Can Be Good Fruit."
The lawsuit was filed in Philadelphia and Donald claims she sent a copy of her book to Perry's company before production of the movie began.
The writer is now seeking $225,000 in damages for not attributing her book in the opening and closing credits. Yahoo News also reported the lawsuit is calling for the company to provide accounting of the movie's revenues.
"Good Deeds," stars Perry as a wealthy businessman who meets a struggling single mother. The film made a reported $35 million at the box office after its release in February.
According to Yahoo representatives for Perry and Lions Gate Entertainment, which released the film and is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.
Perry is best known for his character Madea in which he dresses up in drag. Perry is one of America's most well-known media figures and is a writer, actor, producer, author and songwriter.
In 2011 Forbes named Perry the highest paid man in entertainment when he earned $130 million between May 2010 and 2011. The filmmaker currently has a few projects down the line in the coming year, his latest movie "The Marriage Counselor," is slated for 2013.
Donald's book is "A compelling story of a woman s struggle to free herself from the past in order to move forward in the future with the man she loves. This mysterious secret must unfold in order for the woman to allow a committed vow. In this story her past unravels tragedy, murder and her secret. What the man isn't being honest about is that he also has a secret that materializes in the midst of the storm and the raging fury it holds. The two come to grips with the truths and decide for the future and what it has to offer them," said Amazon.
Good Deeds Trailer
