John Rich Sued for Defamation by ‘Nashville Star’ Contestant

John Rich's legal entanglements just got a bit more complicated. Last week, The Boot reported that Rich had turned himself in on misdemeanor assault and harassment charges filed by former 'Nashville Star' contestant Jared Ashley. Then, four days later, Rich was asked to leave a Nashville restaurant in the early-morning hours because of alleged rowdy behavior, including his refusal to surrender a beer he was drinking.

And on Monday (June 1), Jared Ashley, who was sued by Rich in April, filed a lawsuit against the singer in Circuit Court. According to the Nashville Scene, Ashley's suit, which seeks unspecified damages, alleges that "Rich and Rich's attorney defamed him by falsely telling the media that Ashley demanded $2.9 million to drop the charges."

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The Scene also reports that as part of the suit, an affidavit was filed on behalf of Ashley by Robert L. Smith, a private security guard, known by patrons of the local Mercy Lounge, as "Bobby." Smith was hired to protect members of the artist collective known as the MuzikMafia, including Rich, from June 2004 to April 2006. Among the allegations in the affidavit filed by Smith - who is 6' 6" and weighs 380 lbs. - is the claim that he observed Rich "start countless verbal altercations at bars."

And there's more. An affidavit was also filed by singer-songwriter Dawn Martin, who alleges that the Gretchen Wilson/John Rich-penned 'Redneck Woman' is "substantially similar" to Martin's own song, 'Redneck Country Girl.' Martin alleges the demo was played for Rich, and that he was "extremely impressed" with the song. In addition, Martin claims she performed the song at MuzikMafia events while Rich was present.

After Gretchen Wilson reached No. 1 with 'Redneck Woman,' Martin alleges she e-mailed Rich to tell him she wasn't happy about his version of her song. She further claims his response was that she should "really think about the consequences of your accusations before you start slinging them around the Internet."