Ne-Yo Ordered To Pay

A Maryland judge has ordered R&B singer Ne-Yo and his booking agent to pay more than $156,000 in damages over the performer’s failure to appear at a 2008 New Year’s Eve concert in Washington state.

Anne Arundel County Circuit Judge Philip Caroom ordered the payment Tuesday after a four-day trial in late July and early August.

Promoter Kenyohn Clark sued Ne-Yo, whose real name is Shaffer Smith, and promoter Mike Esterman. Clark claimed that Esterman misled him and failed to return a $95,000 deposit, and the judge ruled in his favor.

Court documents show Ne-Yo testified at trial that he knew in his “heart of hearts” that the deposit should have been returned to Clark.

Attorneys for Ne-Yo and Esterman could not immediately be reached for comment.