Should the Viva Artists Agency (VAA) continue its legal action, the camp of actress Nadine Lustre said they won’t fall back and will fight against the entertainment giant in the court.
In a statement, Atty. Lorna Kapunan, Nadine’s legal counsel, said they welcome “any legal action by Viva so their unconscionable, oppressive and illegal contract with Nadine (and their other artists) can be litigated in the proper forum.”
“It’s about time that a David strikes out a goliath that has taken advantage of young artists in the industry for the longest time,” she continued.
It was earlier reported that the 26-year-old actress has left VAA after working with them for several years and will now be “self-managed.”
“Consistent with her rights under the Civil Code of the Philippines, specifically Article 1920, she has decided to terminate her agency contract with Viva,” Kapunan & Castillo Law Offices said in a statement.
Her decision to withdraw from her talent agency came three months after her ex-boyfriend, James Reid also left the same agency.
But Viva was quick to deny that Nadine is no longer their talent, explaining that the latter “cannot unilaterally withdraw from her contract.”
This was when the agency threatened to take legal action against Nadine because, according to them, “any dealings or professional engagements entered into by Nadine, without the consent or approval of VIVA constitutes breach of contract.”
Kapunan said Viva has not yet replied to any of the letters they sent.
“[They] chose to wait in ambush to malign Nadine and harass third parties dealing with her in good faith,” she said.
“This is wrongful and malicious contract interference by Viva actionable in law for damages,” she added.
Viva launched Nadine as one of the members of the girl group Pop Girls in 2009. She had her huge acting break when she was paired with James in the 2014 romantic-comedy film Diary ng Panget (Diary of an Ugly Person), and since then, Nadine continued to make waves in both television and the big screen.